Cities in Dust

Track 8 on Twice Upon a Time: The Singles

Producer

“Cities in Dust” is a song written and produced by British rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was released in 1985 as the first single from their seventh studio album,… Read More

Oct. 18, 19851 viewer49.8K views

Cities in Dust Lyrics

[Verse 1]
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?

[Chorus]
But, oh-uh-oh, oh, your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh-uh-oh, oh, your city lies in dust, my friend

[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus]
But, oh-uh-oh, oh, your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh-uh-oh, oh, your city lies in dust, my friend
Your city lies in dust

[Bridge]
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

[Chorus]
Your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh-uh-oh, oh, your city lies in dust... my friend

[Verse 3]
Hot and burning in your nostrils
Pouring down your gaping mouth
Your molten bodies, blanket of cinders
Caught in the throes, and

[Chorus]
Woah oh-uh-oh, oh, your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh-uh-oh, oh, your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh-uh-oh, oh, your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh-uh-oh, oh, your city lies in dust... my friend

[Outro]
Your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh-uh-oh, oh, your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh-uh-oh, oh, your city lies in dust, my friend

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About

Genius Annotation

“Cities in Dust” is a song written and produced by British rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was released in 1985 as the first single from their seventh studio album, Tinderbox. It reached position 21 in the UK singles chart.

The song describes the city of Pompeii, destroyed in a volcanic eruption in 79 AD. Imagery describing the volcano and its magma chamber, the condition of the victims of the eruption, and the subsequent discovery and excavation of the city comprises the bulk of the lyrics.