[Verse]

City of colour, Babylon

The followers of Ishtar

Move with bells and silver above the noise

Above the curving stairway of the tower

In the cooler shadow of the stone

The dreamer of the city, Belshazzar

Sits by his open window

Morning traders calling

The sun beats down on the square

People buying, selling and dealing

Over the bridge lies the desert

He sees for miles, watching the slow journeys

Facing Jerusalem

[Verse]

Servants lean on the gates of the palace

The camels in the courtyard roll their eyes

Hands move in the shadows, where the glint of rubies

Cast a horoscope for a couple of coins

I limp past the city of the Euphrates

Today the ships are flagging

The bags of the sails hang empty

The king returns in a cloud of dust

The gate swings open, the camels snap to attention

Even the wind picks, joins the people watching

Tugging sleeves and shawl, jostling the crowd

Behind the veil, guarded by angels

Watching the priestesses, with their silver and vows

Watching the slow journeys in the city of caliphs

Guarded by winged figures, Balshazzar