Lyrics Cappella Romana - Lament for the Fall of Constantinople

Byzantine Chant (Lament for the fall of Constantinople on May 29th, 1453).
Title: "Ο Θεός ήλθοσαν έθνη" (O God, the heathen are come)
Composer: Manuel Chrysaphes

The city is lost now; there's no time for sleeping
We're dying; we're falling; our women are weeping
The souls of our children, like bricks and like mortar
So helpless and broken, like lambs to the slaughter

Enemy! Enemy at the gates!
Enemy! Enemy at the gates!
Enemy! Enemy at the gates!
At the gates! At the gates!

The wardrums are pounding a rhythm divine
Our soldiers are marching for one final time
The rabble approaches, now sensing our fear
Barbarian conquest, of all we hold dear

[chorus]

By Mehmed and Ishak our city is torn
Their ships anchored fast off the coast of the Horn
Our warriors lie helpless, now covered in flies
'Neath ragged aggressors with greed in their eyes

[chorus]

We can't match the strength of the Janissaries
Anatolian justice, we're brought to our knees
Byzantine heroes, struck dumb with awe
And labouring under the Saracen claw

[chorus]