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Water was running children were running
You were running out of time
Under the mountain, a golden fountain
Were you praying at the Lares shrine?
But oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh, oh your city lies in dust, my friend
We found you hiding we found you lying
Choking on the dirt and sand
Your former glories and all the stories
Dragged and washed with eager hands
But, oh oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Your city lies in dust
Water was running children were running
We found you hiding we found you lying
Water was running children were running
We found you hiding we found you lying
Your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Hot and burning in your nostrils
Pouring down your gaping mouth
Your molten bodies blanket of cinders
Caught in the throes
Oh oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh your city lies in dust, my friend
You were running out of time
Under the mountain, a golden fountain
Were you praying at the Lares shrine?
But oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh, oh your city lies in dust, my friend
We found you hiding we found you lying
Choking on the dirt and sand
Your former glories and all the stories
Dragged and washed with eager hands
But, oh oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Your city lies in dust
Water was running children were running
We found you hiding we found you lying
Water was running children were running
We found you hiding we found you lying
Your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Hot and burning in your nostrils
Pouring down your gaping mouth
Your molten bodies blanket of cinders
Caught in the throes
Oh oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh your city lies in dust, my friend
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This song is not only about the destruction of Pompeii by Vesuvius, but also the deterioration of the Roman society. "Under the mountain, a golden fountain Were you praying at the Lares shrine?"
It's seen here that Siouxsie is talking about how avaricious and greedy they were as well as how dependent they were on their pagan gods (the Lares is actually the gods of the household who protected the family, property and farms. They also gaurded entire cities. Shrines to the Lares were found in peoples homes and often at crossroads). Due to their self-absorbtion, the empire collapsed and was easily taken down by unkindly enemies.
Siouxsie was inspired by this song with a visit she had to the remains of Pompeii, and we can see her thoughts on the way the archaeologists treat the site:
Siouxsie is quite the historian and intelligent woman! =]
<<Siouxsie is quite the historian and intelligent woman! =]>><br /> <br /> You are so right ON. Your analysis is one of the best here. It's all about a society fallen into decadent idolatry and ensuing judgment by fire for abandoning Truth. Amorality, sensuality, idolatry and lying had come to characterize the Pompeian society [a microcosm of Roman decline, personified in the nameless victim of the song buried in the ash] yet they refused to repent. To add to the wrath, Rome persecuted and murdered many of the first Christians after the movement began to grow within the Empire. Vesuvius erupted barely 9 years after Titus the Roman general razed the temple at Jerusalem to the ground and massacred the Jewish inhabitants. It was only 5 years since the Roman aggression at Masada. I would not be the first to suggest that the God of Israel was getting even with some of His foes(?). All of which does not detract from, but only enhances the apocalyptic charms of "Cities in Dust"
Exactly! You typed all that I had no energy to type. The destruction of Pompeii was a indeed a microcosm for the destruction of Rome. In fact, I almost sense a warning from Siouxsie about history repeating itself with they way the world is becoming, espeically in America.
I also take it as a warning. <br /> Substitute "Iranian nukes" for blankets of volcanic cinders and " texting on your I-phone" for praying at the Lares shrine. It's the immediacy of the doom that makes this song so powerful.