Look away from the sea
I can take you anywhere
Spend a vision with me
A chase with the wind

Move closer to me
I can make you anyone
I think you're ready to see
The gates of Babylon

The power of what has been before
Rises to trap you within
A magic carpet ride a genie maybe more
A city of heavenly sin
Sleep with the devil and then you must pay
Sleep with the devil and the devil will take you away
Oh gates of Babylon

You can see but you're blind
Someone turned the sun around
But you can see in your mind
The gates of Babylon

You're riding the endless caravan
Bonded and sold as a slave
A sabre dance removing all the veils
Getting as good as you gave
Sleep with the devil and then you must pay
Sleep with the devil and the devil will take you away

Look away from the sea
I can take you anywhere
Spend a vision with me
A chase with the wind

Move closer to me
I can make you anyone
I think you're ready to see
The gates of Babylon

The power of what has been before
Rises to trap you within
A magic carpet ride a genie maybe more
A city of heavenly sin
Sleep with the devil and then you must pay
Sleep with the devil and the devil will take you away
Black gates of Babylon

The devil is me
And I'm holding the key
To the gates of sweet hell
Babylon


Lyrics submitted by han2, edited by maryfitz

Gates of Babylon Lyrics as written by Ronnie James Dio Ritchie Blackmore

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Gates Of Babylon song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    awesome song!! rainbow is a highly underrated band. very sad! :(

    Ereinionon January 24, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Dude.. Blackmore got me into guitar.. and Dio into rock/metal.. Them together is the best thing ever to me lol.. I used to listen to early deep purple, and some Sabbath ( heaven and hell ) and also Dio, and Elf.. but when the 2 got together.. omg It was, is, and will be awesome

    leetwrckon September 07, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Never be taken in by your fantasies and things you dream of- As ever with such lyrics, Dio excels in their creation and delivery.

    Dreamer Deceiveron December 10, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    mad song, mad mad song.

    mattalacon November 09, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    You should hear a song from the spanish folkmetal band Mago de Oz called "en nombre de dios". Its a spanish translated cover and its awesome.

    jay696on January 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Great song. If you like this you should also hear Yngwie Malmsteen's version.

    maidenfanon April 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Agreed with maidenfan, the yngwie version is awesome, as so are alot of his other covers from his inspirations album. ^^ The song itself maybe is like the ultimate sin city itslef, in the way that it's a place where the erotic (not to be perverted) or occult pleasure can be accesed only if wanted to. Or I might be totaly worng. ^^ Wouldn't be surprised there! Although, my favorite song that Dio does is Sails of Charon, another Yngwie cover. =^__^=

    obsidiansaberon June 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    beautiful ending (with the violin solo) not to mention incredible lyrical change to the chorus that hits you like a a brick. Blackmoore is a god!

    floydian18on June 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Great song, no thanks to Baal... He did not want it finished, did anyone know that?

    stephan76on July 03, 2009   Link
  • 0
    Song Comparison

    Gates of Babylon is my Favorite song by Rainbow and Kashmir is my favorite song by Led Zeppelin but which is better

    CaiusKBon February 09, 2022   Link

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