The Floods Of Florence Lyrics - Phil Ochs

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 [unverified] 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 [unverified] 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 [unverified] of love and reverence 

Fell beneath the floods of Florence 

The troubadour 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 [unverified] of love and reverence 

Fell beneath the floods of Florence