I Remember When This Was a Forest

[Verse 1] You call this the old part of town Because the stones are two centuries old You point at names above the doors And tell me stories you've been told You say the tower survived the war The bridge was built in eighty-nine You touch the wall with reverence As though you've reached the edge of time I shouldn't smile I know But darling, I remember when this was a forest [Refrain] I remember when this was a forest Before the avenues, before the lights Before a million windows Tried to make a second daylight I remember when this was a forest When the moon had room to reach the ground You call this city ancient I remember when there wasn't any town [Verse 2] There was a stream beneath that street It froze completely every year Where taxis wait beneath the rain I watched a wounded red deer There were wolves beyond the hill Long before the railway came And somewhere underneath your feet There was a path that had no name No cathedral No hotel No monuments to victories Just winter trees And hungry things And me [Chorus] I remember when this was a forest Dark enough to hide the stars No towers cutting through the night No headlights, trains or passing cars I remember when this was a forest Before your maps divided everything I've watched you build eternity From stone Then tear it down and build again You think the city conquered time It hasn't Nothing does [Verse 3] I've watched the first foundations laid I've watched the final walls come down I've seen a palace become a bank A battlefield become downtown I've watched your statues change their names Your heroes fall from marble grace Every generation swears The world begins within its age Kings said that Empires too They sounded very certain You do too [Refrain] I remember when this was a forest Before the bells, before the smoke Before men drew a line across the earth And killed each other for the stroke I remember when this was a forest And I remember what came next Every age believes itself immortal That's what makes immortality so interesting [Verse 4] Don't misunderstand me I like what you have made Electric light is wonderful And central heating is a triumph I have absolutely no desire To romanticize the plague Your coffee improved enormously Your plumbing even more And I prefer an elevator To seven flights of stairs But sometimes near four in the morning When the traffic finally dies I can almost hear the branches [Build] For one breath The glass disappears The asphalt breaks The towers fade Eight hundred years collapse Into the smell of rain And there it is The forest Waiting underneath everything [Final Chorus] I remember when this was a forest And one night it may be one again Not tomorrow Not in your lifetime Maybe not for centuries yet But I've learned not to trust forever I've watched too many forevers end Cities, kingdoms, borders, gods All certain they would never bend I remember when this was a forest So forgive me if I smile When someone calls a hundred years An unimaginably long while Build your towers Light your streets Love this little piece of time I do But don't ask me what's permanent I've lived too long to lie [Outro] The rain begins For just a moment the pavement smells like earth You don't notice Of course you don't But I do I remember when this was a forest I remember when this was a forest [End]