Floods Of Florence

(album: Tape From California - 1968)

Picasso leans out of the window, looks out on the ghetto
Changing the shapes he sees
His old friend El Greco, soon is expected
Now just an echo of Spanish seas
And outside, the people stare
Wondering what's going on in there
Tossing the dice, they pay the price, so they can compare

And the holy words of love and reverence
Fell beneath the floods of Florence

The shop girls go out to the galleries spending their salaries
To see if they catch a hold
They meet an old master, like some unknown lover
For some unknown reason he's never old
And the auctioneer clears his throat
What am I bid for this bottled boat?
A tap on the rail
Sunk with a sail, but soon she's afloat

And the holy words of love and reverence
Fell beneath the floods of Florence

Griffith pulls out his whiskey, the mad room is misty
Covered with yesterdays
The girl is so pretty, she asks for a memory
He touches her knee and she fades away
But the box office line is long
The spectacular show is on
Thirsty for thrills, the fountain is filled
With dreams of the dawn

And the holy words of love and reverence
Fell beneath the floods of Florence

The troubador comes from the country, falls by the factory
Sliding on simple strings
Armed with his anger, he sings of the danger
He senses a stranger is in the wings
But the fledgling has learned to fly
All of the innocence leaves his eye
Echoes explode, rolled from the road
The melody dies

And the holy words of love and reverence
Fell beneath the floods of Florence