Cities In Dust
Siouxsie A The Banshees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The song "Cities in Dust" by Siouxsie and the Banshees is a haunting and evocative tribute to the city of Pompeii, which was decimated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The song paints a vivid picture of the chaos and destruction of the eruption, with water running, children running, and people trying to escape the ash and debris raining down on them. The chorus repeats the ominous refrain, "Oh, oh your city lies in dust, my friend", underscoring the tragic and irreversible nature of the disaster.
The lyrics also touch on the tragic human toll of the eruption, with references to people hiding, lying, choking on sand and dirt, and being caught in the throes of the disaster. The image of "molten bodies" wrapped in a "blanket of cinders" is particularly striking and gruesome. The song's narrative structure moves back and forth between the moments leading up to the eruption and the aftermath, as if to emphasize how quickly the city was destroyed and how little could be done to stop it.
Line by Line Meaning
Water was running children were running
Fleeing from the disaster that was happening around them, the people ran for their lives as water flowed in the streets.
You were running out of time
Time was fast running out for the people caught in this catastrophic event.
Under the mountain, a golden fountain
In the midst of the disaster, there was a beacon of hope – a beautiful golden fountain.
Were you praying at the Lares shrine?
Perhaps you had faith and were praying for deliverance at the local Lares shrine.
But oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Despite any hope or prayer, the tragic events that happened here have destroyed the once-great city.
We found you hiding we found you lying
In the aftermath, people were found either hiding in terror or lying motionless - victims of the disaster.
Choking on the dirt and sand
The survivors were gasping for air, choking on the dust and sand kicked up by the event.
Your former glories and all the stories
The once-beautiful buildings and stories of the city's past glories have been washed away forever.
Dragged and washed with eager hands
People tried to salvage what they could from the ruins with eager hands, but it was a futile effort.
Hot and burning in your nostrils
The air was hot and burning, filled with the smell of smoke and ash.
Pouring down your gaping mouth
Survivors' mouths would have been hanging open in disbelief as they witnessed the tragedy and inhaled the smoky air.
Your molten bodies blanket of cinders
In the end, the people were left as nothing but a blanket of cinders, caught in the throes of the disaster that overtook them.
Caught in the throes
These unlucky souls were caught up in the uncontrollable destruction that unfolded in their city.
Your city lies in dust, my friend
The refrain repeats, reminding us of the tragedy that befell the once-great city, now lying destroyed and desolate.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Peter Clarke, Steven Bailey, Susan Ballion
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bubu4433
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 ohh, oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Ohh, 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 ohh, oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Ohh, 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
Ohh, 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
And ohh, oh, your city lies in dust, my friend
Ohh, oh, your city lies in dust, my friend
Ohh, oh, your city lies in dust, my friend
Ohh, oh, your city lies in dust, my friend
Your city lies in dust, my friend
Ohh, oh, your city lies in dust, my friend
Ohh, oh, your city
@borislavkostov6148
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
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 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
And your city lies in dust
@grusomnor
"Cities In Dust"
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
But 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, your city lies in dust, my friend
But 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
But 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
And oh, your city lies in dust, my friend
Oh, your city lies in dust, my friend
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...
@donniejohnson6060
Thanks for the hint buddy I was roaming around looking for something new to listen to
Any soundtrack with Siouxsie and the Banshees is an ingredient is 1/2 here for sure
In gratitude for you giving me a soundtrack to listen to may I offer you another one that also has this song on it
Beautiful fucker of a thing call the Grosse Pointe Blank soundtrack
Sickly Laden with ska mood 80s kitsch and even a thin ribbon of goth
Enjoy brethren... Jah bless
@mathydisanti1917
I was a dark teenager who listened to Siouxsie and Banshees .... that was a long time ago ... I am 52 years old in October 2020 and I feel the same emotion!
@wiegerarensman7652
LOL me too!
@maxshea4762
ME THREE!
@void4955
I'm a teenager and I listen to their music. Maybe I'll say the same thing u said after 40 years
@johndclegg38
We're old and irrelevant now...
But we used to own the night.
@petartomic6582
Well done you! I'm 58. Some things are there to last for some time... Still No 1 on my car playlist!
@derin111
I saw them live as a 15 year old Punk in 1978. I’m 60 now and still love them!
@kathygonzalez1413
That's great 😊
@karicallaway5065
60 year olds are so much cooler now than they used to be
@bikesclassicas
Eu fui no show no Brasil