Helen and Cassandra
Helen's Echo Through Time
Lyrics
According to the myths and legends
Introduction to the myths and legends
At the fringes of our memory
Reflection on the distant past
Paris stole the queen of Sparta
Paris abducted the queen of Sparta, Helen
And carried her across the sea
Paris took her across the sea
As they fled, he never dreamt
Paris was unaware of the global consequences
That he held the world in his grip
Paris unknowingly held the fate of the world
Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships
Helen's beauty caused a massive conflict
Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships
Reiteration of Helen's impact
From Mycenae comes Agamemnon
Introduction of Agamemnon from Mycenae
And the Greeks of the city-states
Greeks from city-states armed for war
Laden with their bronzen weapons
They carry bronze weapons
They're waiting at the Trojan Gates
Waiting at the Trojan Gates for battle
As the arrow flies and Achilles falls
Reference to the death of Achilles
Does she raise the wind to her lips?
Speculation on Helen's involvement in Achilles' death
Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships
Reiteration of Helen's influential beauty
Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships
Emphasizing the impact of Helen's face
It's funny how the story lingers
Reflection on the enduring nature of the story
It's probably a myth of course
Suggestion that the story may be a myth
A whisper in the ear of Homer
Attribution of the story to Homer
Perhaps there never was a horse
Doubt about the existence of the Trojan Horse
She could have turned the head of Paris
Speculation on how Helen captivated Paris
With the gentle sway of her hips
Reference to the allure of Helen's hips
Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships
Reiteration of Helen's captivating impact
Oh Cassandra, what did you know
Addressing Cassandra, a bearer of bad news
You who bring bad news wherever you go
Recognition of Cassandra's unfortunate role
You had the gift to see the future
Cassandra possessed the gift of foresight
From Apollo so it's said
Cassandra's gift from Apollo
And he made no one believe you
Others doubted Cassandra's predictions
When you would not share his bed
Reference to Cassandra's refusal of Apollo's advances
Oh Cassandra, what did you see
Questioning Cassandra about her visions
As you walked the lonely road of your certainty
Cassandra walking a lonely path of certainty
Gazing at the ruined city
Observing the destruction of the warned city
That your warnings could not save
Recognition of the futility of Cassandra's warnings
Oh Cassandra, so still and so grave Cassandra
Reflection on Cassandra's grave and still demeanor
The Bronze Age kingdoms tumble
Reference to the fall of Bronze Age kingdoms
The cities fade one by one
Cities fading away one by one
The walls of Mycenae crumble
Mycenae's walls crumbling
The Dark Age has begun
Declaration of the beginning of the Dark Age
And the truth is lost in the ancient dust
The truth lost in ancient dust, but memory persists
Yet the memory forever persists
Memory enduring despite the passage of time
Of Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships
Reiteration of Helen's impact on launching ships
Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships
Final emphasis on Helen's influence
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