London Plane

Where the road runs down To the river bank And the mudlarks search on the shore Where the watermen set sail For the towns upstream Upon a golden course to Runnymede Where the water's edge Meets the squares and the streets The river 'knows the mood Of kings and crowds and priests' Take tea in the gardens Drunk for a penny or two Stars will lead you home Sailing on the English way Racing on the high tides Here by the riverside Reaching for the day's last light When the Houses fall And the flames meet the sky Turner takes his boat out To catch the light And far downstream the Alice is clean gone In the dark she slipped away Racing on the English way Sails against the skyline Down by the water's edge Reaching for the last light Time and tide wait for no man A river passing by As the crowds fade away The fires grow cold in the east Skylon rises in a brave new world The clocks are stopped And boats are held Time and tide wait for no man And now the ship has sailed And the crowds fade away But by the water's edge At the end of the road I still reach for the day's last light