Metropolis
The Motors Lyrics

Once upon a time when we imagined
Long ago, when the world was new, we dreamed of things that were fantastical and wondrous.

Many years ago when time was young
In the distant past, when the world was still young, we had visions of things that we couldn't yet see.

What kind of magic did we see there?
What wonders did we behold in our minds' eye, in our fantasies of what could be?

Only Heaven knows
Only a divine power could truly know the depths of our imaginations and the wondrous things we dreamed of.

Not so long ago, there was a small town
More recently, in a small and humble community,

Suddenly, a star began to grow
There was a burst of growth and activity, like a shining star exploding into life.

And if you look up in the sky
If you gaze up to the heavens,

It's high rise
You'll see towering buildings and structures reaching up toward the clouds.

The trees began to disappear
The natural landscape was overtaken by the spread of urbanization.

Department stores were born
New kinds of commercial enterprises arose, catering to the urban way of life.

And let me tell you something, dear
Allow me to share a truth with you, my friend.

There's escalators everywhere
The city is full of mechanical devices like escalators, meant to make everyday life more convenient and efficient.

Metropolis, Metropolis, you just had to be
Oh, bustling metropolis, with all your frenzied energy and innovation, you were simply inevitable.

Metropolis, Metropolis, a page in history
Your legacy and impact on the world is immense and will be recorded in the annals of time.

Metropolis, oh, what a curse, oh, what a buzz in the city
Your frenetic pace and artificiality can be both overwhelming and thrilling to those who live within you.

Metropolis, just look what you've done to me
You have forever changed and shaped the lives of those who have lived and grown within your boundaries.

The night is ablaze with the glory
The city never sleeps, and is always lit up and vibrant, even in the dead of night.

Another page burns with the dawn
Every day brings new developments and changes to the city and its inhabitants.

Sunset days from my hometown
The peace and simplicity of my old life in a small town has long since passed away.

Have long been gone
The idyllic days of the past are far behind me now.

The beggar lies down with the rich man
The insurmountable class hierarchies of the past have been eroded, and people from different walks of life now mingle and interact more frequently.

Together, they dream in the past
Despite their differences in income and station, they can all share memories and nostalgia for a time when the world was simpler.

And if you walk a rich girl down the street
Even the wealthy and privileged stroll the city streets, taking in its sights and sounds.

It's high class
Their presence adds an air of prestige and sophistication to the city landscape.

They've got her name inside a bank
The wealthy elite have their names and money enshrined in financial institutions, leaving their mark on the city's economy.

A memory concern
A financial institution meant to safeguard and manage one's money after death.

Where people play the numbers game
Where people gamble and speculate on stocks and other investments, hoping to strike it big.

With calculators everywhere
The relentless march of technology has ensured that even banking and finance are run using advanced machinery.

Metropolis, Metropolis, just look what you've done
Oh, great and powerful city, look at the massive impact you've had on the world and the people who call you home.

Look what you've done to me
You've changed me in countless ways, leaving your mark on my very being.