Lyrics Dar Williams

Dar Williams

This Was Pompeii

I am thinking about the woman in a 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 of the night that melted stone

The neighbor'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, tra la," they say, they say

"Let's Go Pompeii."

I think about Pompeii when I feel an end is near,

Just before the rain and every time you disappear.

And I think about a teacup, suspended and half-served.

And all the scholars know is that it's perfectly preserved.

That's all they say.

This was Pompeii.

And as for my own kingdom, not a table leg was charred

I simple 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 dust

A century, a day

This was Pompeii.