"The Former Site Of" lyrics - THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS

Oh our land, it is sinking
But the country, it is rising
Either betting on us floating
Or they're counting on us dying

They say, "Leave! Leave, you madman!"
Try to talk, talk sense to me
But maybe he will part the waters
Like he did back with the Red Sea

So goodbye, all you plank roads
All you liveries, mills and derricks...
Just a steeple, bell for company
Houses long gone, carted off on wheels

Here on the roof of a church
So goes all of your good work
You're not too far off, my friend
To say I'm off the deep end

I am famous in the city
As a fool on his last stand
Some call to me as they row past
Slowly, silent, I raise my glass

Left my collar and my congregation
Not a sailor, not a shepherd
Just a lighthouse in rough weather

Here on the roof of the church
So goes all of your good work
You're not too far off, my friend
To say I'm off the deep end

The rooftops, they slip
Out of sight, silent, gone
Was I a good captain
As the vessel went down?

I ask at the gate as the trumpets all sound
Was I a good captain
As the vessel went down?

This great ship of Zion
Makes room for the next
What we lost on the ground
The sky will protect

Soon unbroken surface will make us secret
As a great noose of water
Closes 'round the neck

And an old woman's wave
From the deck of a ship
Says hello or come help, it is hard to tell

And a man's hypnotized by the flowers
A prayer
He finds his own way to talk to the dead

And a boy mad with love
Says the Earth is not round
He would say anything to not be alone

And the wine recalls when it was water
And next...
A flame tries to cling to the life it has left

All of them shadows
That reminded me of mine

All of them shadows
That reminded me of mine