Ruins (Live ’76)

    It’s so quiet in the ruins, walking though the old town
    Stones crumbling under my feet I see smoke for miles around
    Oh it’s enough to make you weep, all that remains of the main street
    Up in the park on Sunday, dogs chasing and the children played
    Old man with his head down, can’t see nothing more around … no
    But he remembers how it used to be, back in the old days:
    ‘So nice to see you coming back in this town again,
    It’s nice to see a friendly face come peeping through,
    Having tea in the afternoon, so nice to see you
    Coming back in this town again…

    Ah but it’s all changed winter turned on Man
    Came down one day when no-one was looking
    And it stole away the land, people running scared,
    Losing hands, dodging shadows of falling sand,
    Buildings standing like empty shells
    And nobody, helping no-one else
    Young child with his hands high; ain’t able to see no reason why…no
    But he remembers how it used to be, back in the old days:
    “So nice to see you coming back in this town again,
    It’s nice to see a friendly face come peeping through,
    You’d better know what you’re going through now:
    You came back here to find your home is a black horizon
    That you don’t recognise,
    Evil destruction has taken everything
    You’d better walk on the side while you’re still walking,
    Just keep on walking on down the street,
    Keep your distance from the people you meet
    Oh Lord! And you’d better watch your eyes,
    ‘Cause if smoke gets in them, baby you won’t rise again

    Where’s it leading to, freedom at what cost?
    People needing more and more and it’s all getting lost
    I want back – I want back,
    Back to the time when the earth was green
    And there was no high walls, and the sea was clean
    Don’t stop that sun to shine, it’s not yours or mine … no