Al Stewart Helen And Cassandra
According to the myths and legends At the fringes of our memory Paris stole the queen of Sparta And carried her across the sea As they fled, he never dreamt That he held the world in his grip Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships
From Mycenae comes Agamemnon And the Greeks of the city-states Laden with their bronzen weapons They're waiting at the Trojan Gates As the arrow flies and Achilles falls Does she raise the wind to her lips? Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships
It's funny how the story lingers It's probably a myth of course A whisper in the ear of Homer Perhaps there never was a horse She could have turned the head of Paris With the gentle sway of her hips Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships
Oh Cassandra, what did you know You who bring bad news wherever you go You had the gift to see the future From Apollo so it's said And he made no one believe you When you would not share his bed Oh Cassandra, what did you see As you walked the lonely road of your certainty Gazing at the ruined city That your warnings could not save
Oh Cassandra, so still and so graveCassandra The Bronze Age kingdoms tumble The cities fade one by one The walls of Mycenae crumble The Dark Age has begun And the truth is lost in the ancient dust Yet the memory forever persists Of Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships