The
air raid siren’s going off, this means the start of war
Time
is very short now lady till this place goes bust
Till
ashes become ashes and the dust returns to dust
See
the bombed-out buildings lady, see the burned-out cars
Everything’s
in ruins lady, everybody’s scarred
All
our dreams are spoiled, all our hopes lie crushed
Where
ashes become ashes and the dust returns to dust
The man who’s come to sail this ark is wearing iron gloves
As the storm clouds gather overhead the wind begins to gust
And ashes become ashes and the dust returns to dust
Isaiah’s
at the roadside calling “This way to the floods”
His
lips are sered with burning coals, his hands are caked with blood
But
the tablets have been broken, all prophecies are hushed
Where
ashes become ashes and dust returns to dust
There’s
graffiti on the billboard along Cathedral Way
It
says “In God we always trust; the rest of you can pay”
While
the drunkards in the graveyards go on singing out their lust
And
ashes become ashes and the dust returns to dust
You can even break a diamond if your blade is sharp enough
But
my love for you is made of steel and it will never rust
Though
ashes become ashes and the dust returns to dust
Take
my hand and walk with me, beware the roads are mined
They’re
saying what’s just started may go on a long long time
Put
your arm around me, place in me your trust
Before
ashes become ashes and the dust returns to dust
May
your God give you His blessing, whoever your God may be
May
your children bring you happiness, may you live when men are free
May
your ashes become ashes, may your dust return to dust
The apocalyptic vision was a consequence of watching too many news broadcasts, and teaching a course of modern Jewish history which took me through pogroms and the Holocaust to my own memories of the Yom Kippur and Peace for Galille wars in Israel. By the most bizarre coincidence, I finished the song, and wrote it up on my diary, on September 10th 2001. I was on the golf course when, the following day, Apocalypse Airlines Flights 11 and 175 crashed into the World Trade Centre in New York.
You can find David Prashker at:
Copyright © 2015 David Prashker
All rights reserved
The Argaman Press
If
you would like to include "Ashes & Dust" in your repertoire,
either for paid public performance or to record for commercial
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Use of this song, and/or these recordings, for
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