02 Vesuvius Rules
(Featuring Richard Trevor-Williams as The Emperor)

‘Happy to help you come Monday morning’
droned the device that fielded the call.
Funnel of smoke through the phone booth window
right from the spot where the rental car stalled.

(chorus) It’s been piling up all day.
There’s no holding it at bay.
We’re being buried in the grey,
just like in Pompeii.

No point in filling the trunk and leaving;
jamming the exits for miles and miles
are drunk groups of revelers, slowly weaving
slack jaws of horror into great big smiles.

(chorus)

The Emperor is on TV, telling folks what to believe;
“No need to panic or to flee. Nothing to see here.
Enjoy the cheap increase in heat.
Finance yourself a comfy seat,
wipe that lava off your feet and have another beer.
Tomorrow is another year.”

Both hands thrust through the hot grey blanket
in blind hope of rescue from out of the sky
but one’s made a pigeon a fine apartment,
and the other’s being pumped by an insurance sales guy.

(chorus)

The Emperor is back again,
he says ‘Don’t mind the armoured men.
They’re here to usher sunshine in and greet prosperity.”
But two weeks now, the sky’s been black
I’ve got these blisters on my back,
and there’s lava seeping through the cracks behind of the TV,
though next month, they say, cable’s free.

No point in turning up Monday morning.
Well, you could try, but somehow I doubt
that you’d like the overly warm reception.
Seems that Vesuvius wants us out.

(chorus)

(Photo: Richard Trevor-Williams)

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