This Was Pompeii Lyrics - Dar Williams

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 

Everyone has memories from the night that melted stone 

The neighbors 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, 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 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 

"Oh, oh, that's all", they say 

"This was Pompeii" 

And as for my on 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 dust 

A century, a day 

This was Pompeii 

This was Pompeii 

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, hmm