This Was Pompeii

(album: Mortal City - 1996)

I am thinking about a woman in the century of peace
On a bright mosaic she is washing on her knees
And she looks up at the black sky beyond the mountain tall
She says "oh good, the rain is finally going to fall today"
This was Pompeii

And everyone has memories from the night that melted stone
The neighbour's nightgown, the screaming on the phone
And the tired man at the station says "we can't tell who's alive
All we ever know is that the tourists survive"
"Tra la la, tra la la, let's go" they say
"Let's go Pompeii"

And I think about Pompeii when I feel an end is near
Just before the rain and everytime you disappear
And I think about a teacup suspended and half-served
ANd all the scholars know is that it's perfectly preserved
"Oh, oh, oh, oh" that's all they say
This was Pompeii

And as for my own kingdom, not a table leg was charred
I simply lost my kingdom cause I held it much too hard
Once I had a sadness, the sadness turned to trust
The trust turned into ashes and to lawyers and to dust
A century, a day
This was Pompeii, this was Pompeii