Woke up, I got dressed and went to Herculaneum
With no idea what the future deemed it would become
My uncle, he is an admiral, as for me I have no trade
My name is Pliny and these are observations I have made

These are the last days in the city of Pompeii
These are the last days, uhhuh, uhhuh, hey
These are the last days

A pretty little city, barely inland from the sea
A social of life of ??? soirees, and debauchery
What took 500 years to build was over in a flash
With people, tables, government houses, all covered up in ash

These are the last days in the city of Pompeii
These are the last days, uhhuh, hey
These are the last days

Woke up, I got dressed and went to Herculaneum
With no idea what the future deemed it would become
My uncle, he is an admiral, as for me I have no trade
My name is Pleni and these are observations I have made

These are the last days in the city of Pompeii
These are the last days in the city of Pompeii
These are the last days in the city of Pompeii
These are the last days in the city of Pompeii
These are the last days in the city of Pompeii
These are the last days in the city of Pompeii
These are the last days in the city of Pompeii
These are the last days...................


Lyrics submitted by ebowtheletter

The Last Days of Pompeii/Benediction song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

1 Comment

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    Alas, as Mr. Hart is no longer here with us, I must attempt to make sense of His mini rock opera. The simplicity of the lyrics belies a vast underlying message...

    Obviously, this is a metaphor for the greed of corporate oil and land developers. The "eruption" (climate change and deforestation) is upon us, and the civilization we worked so long to build is threatened. The narrator, Pliny the Elder, historically died of asphyxiation/heart attack while on a rescue mission, at the actual eruption in 79 AD. The line about "having no trade" is meant to call attention to the imcompatibility of commerce with the environment, where modern techolnological "progress" often means destroying nature to obtain its resources and wealth. If you oppose this structure of ownership and control, you "have no trade", and all of us who are tied to making a living in a world of extreme capitalism with its oligarchy and technocracy are warned of the coming "eruption" which we are all contributing to!

    madscijron August 25, 2021   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.