Once the chosen, the blessed
Once the time-honored guest
Once the champion of all that is truth

But the bridegroom is exiled in grief
And returns in the night as a thief
Removing her shawl
In spite of it all
Even angels fall...

The land is diseased
While her power is pleased
Her idols delighting the Age

Over land, sea, and air
She traffics her wares
And pulls shut the doors of the cage

Her lovers rise out of her bed
And bow to the crown on her head
Prostrated they crawl
In spite of it all
Even angels fall...

Through the ruins of conscience she walks
And talks
While Nero's mad violin weeps

The multitudes roar
Like waves pounding the shore
A darkness hangs over the deeps

Her messengers tremble in fear
And announce that the end must be near
But she's deaf to the call
In spite of it all
Even angels fall...

The moon leaps over the hills
And spills
Soft light silhouetting her form

As the night breezes blow
And the sky fills with snow
Trumpet blasts herald the storm

Her majesty looks down and grins
Now thoroughly drunk on her sins
She's rebuilding the wall
In spite of it all
Even angels fall...

© 1986 C. Hovey