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 grave Cassandra

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