Great Ruins Lyrics

I met a man, I met a man from the Great Ruins of Zimbabwe

He had a home, a humble home in the shadows of its ruin

Was it home to Sheba? Home to all those who came under her spell.

Ancient Ophir? With precious stones, and sandalwood, well, it finally fell

Fine deceiver? Who would have believed that the Bantu could build her so well?

Wealth provider. I'll trade you gold and ivory, trade you gold and ivory for shell.

Sumbaya, sumbaya

They all came down, they all came down, to the Great Kraal of Zimbabwe

They all came down, they all came down, to drink from its well

Great divider. You know it didn't suit the white man's dialogue so well.

For city builders to come from the heart of Africa, that's not a story they want to tell.

Goods receiver, they came from far and wide, or so the Mombasa traders tell.

And the ancient ruins withered in the shadow of a Colossus, and for some, for some he turned it all to hell.

Sumbaya, sumbaya

They all came down, they all came down, to the Great Kraal of Zimbabwe

They all came down, they all came down, to drink from its well

And a shadow fell on this abundant land in the name of freedom,

By a man who would court them all with a tongue like silver,

And the sons and daughters of the empire were driven from the land

And it all turned to ruin, the great Kraal and more

I met a man, I met a man from the Great Ruins of Zimbabwe

He had a home, a humble home, in the shadows of its ruin