Prophecies - David Knopfler

Release may come quite slowly

The shedding of a skin

She’s clinging to the mascarade

(And that which lies within)

The s-stuttering of puppets

The fluttering of wings

The final curtain closes

With the cutting of her strings

She needs a place to hide

She fears the Mannequin

Her bright and shiny mirror

Reflecting the strangest things

She sings «Come down to the lakeside

There were omens in the leaves

Come on down to the lakeside

To those dark and swooping trees»

Are these flaws inside the shiny glass

Teardrops formed from a misty past?

Nothing really dies down here

And nothing ever lasts

No, it never lasts

She dreams about the Prince to come

And the prophecies of Kings

There’s a scratching at the railings

Screeching laughter rings

Nothing she can do but hide

The emptiness she feels inside

Waiting like the water

For the gift she knows he brings

Prophecies of violence

The touch of past mistakes

Teardrops fall to Order

The surface gently breaks

Come down to the boathouse

Where the water gently aches

One kiss in this silence.

.

This Princess never wakes

The beckoning lake — the threatening lake

Is all to come — is not too late

These prophecies move history

But darkly through the glass

Come with us to the other side

Where all the doors are open wide

The boatman waits for your reply

And all is yet to pass

Staring into the swirling glass

Doors open from a misty past

Nothing really dies down here

And nothing ever lasts

No, it never lasts

Come down to the water

Madonna’s fateful daughter

Come down to the water

Where the hyacinths form wreaths

Come down to the lilies

There were omens in the tea leaves

Come on down to the lakeside

To those dark and swooping trees

In whirling conversations

She feels a cold sensation

Reflecting in the mirror

Sees the Mannequin

Come with me to the water

The dark and swirling water

Come on down to the lakeside

It’s for you

It’s for you these bells that ring