Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart
Al Stewart
This song is about the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453. Constantinople, now Istanbul, was the last remaining part of the Byzantine Empire, which itself was the remnants left after the fall of the western half of the Roman Empire nearly a millennium earlier.
Across the western world
The fights are going down
The gypsy armies of the evening
Have lit their fires across
The nether side of town
They will not pass this way again
So here in the night
Leave your home it's time for running
Out of the light
I see the hosts of Mohammed coming
The Holy Sister bars her doors against the East
Her house has stood too long divided
The uninvited guests are breaking up the feast
She may not bid them leave again
So here in the night
Leave your home it's time for running
Out of the light
I see the hosts of Mohammed coming
I dreamed I stood like this before
And I'm sure the words that I heard then
Were much the same
It's just an old Greek tragedy they're acting here
Held over by popular acclaim
So here in the night
Leave your home it's time for running
Out of the light
I see the hosts of Mohammed coming
Constantinople was written by Peter White & Al Stewart.
Constantinople was produced by Chris Desmond.