Waiting For The Barbarians
This song is based on a poem written by by the Alexandrian Greek poet Constantine Cavafy and first published in Egypt in 1904. It is a timeless poem that can, and has been, applied to many situations. You can view the text of Cavafy's poem here.
Does anyone know where our emperor has gone
I’ve got a feeling something’s going on
If you’ve seen him you must say
For the barbarians arrive today
The emperor is wearing his jewelled crown
At the city gates he stares around
He’s got a parchment scroll to give away
When the barbarians arrive today
Chorus
I’m a soldier and it’s true
Sometimes I fear the Barbarians too
If the emperor commands should I obey?
But I'll never throw my sword. . . . . . . . . . . . . Away
The senate is empty there’s no one there
The senators have gone they just don’t care
Any laws they make will be swept away
When the barbarians arrive today
With jewelled togas the consuls hold
Silver canes bedecked with gold
Will their emeralds dazzle, and amaze
The barbarians who will arrive today?
chorus
Where are the orators why don’t they speak?
They’ve gone away in a fit of pique
Their words would anger or dismay
When the barbarians arrive today
Night is falling and confusion spreads
As deep in thought we retire to bed
The emperor weeps and the priests all pray
For no barbarians arrived today
chorus
We all need barbarians to blame
Without them life wouldn’t be the same
Would the great and the powerful still hold sway
If there were no barbarians to hold at bay