The Seven Cities of Gold is a myth that led to several expeditions by adventurers such as conquistadors in the 16th century. They had heard stories from natives about cities with great and limitless riches. At the same time the Spanish were performing colonial expansion in the Americas.
The original motivations were trade and the spread of the Catholic faith through indigenous conversions made by missionaries. This song is seen through the eyes of a priest who accompanies an expedition. The expectation of salvation is eventually replaced by a realization that a culture is being eradicated and that greed and corruption had consumed the once pious hearts of his fellow adventurers.
Inca society held gold in special status. A sacred fluidity that forged a direct connection to the supreme deity, its liquid tears fallen down to earth - Tears from the Sun.
lyrics
TEARS FROM THE SUN
Prayer
Oh Father, protect us
Show us your mercy
Guide us safe to the shores
Of all our hopes and dreams
We set sail with hope and promise
We set sail at his command
Tides and courage drive us onward
Searching for the golden land
Warming smiles greet our arrival
Curious strangers from afar
Banners blaze with lions and angels
You can’t fight history
Who you are
Chorus
Pray for the ones that you’re leaving behind
For the treasures you’re hoping to find
New worlds
Dream of the stories yet to be told
As we march for the cities of gold
Tears from the Sun
Conquistadors, Santa Maria
Peoples kneel in our domain
Replace your gods now with the true one
In golden cities
Ghosts remain
Chorus
We set sail with hope and promise
We set sail with joyous song
Steering by a broken compass
With no sense of
Right or wrong
credits
from Capture Light,
released March 16, 2018
John Holden - Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Drums
Oliver Day - Guitar, Mandolin
Joe Payne - Vocals
Oliver Wakeman - Keyboards
supported by 75 fans who also own “Tears from the Sun”
Absolutely hooked on this album from first listen. How rare is that with prog!??? Excellent songwriting and musicianship. Can’t wait to dive into the rest of the collection. Thomas Lock
supported by 71 fans who also own “Tears from the Sun”
In the wake of buying the Welcome To The Planet I also went for this older "EP" (clocking in on 70 minutes a rather big big EP...) as a final farewell to a very bright bright star that sadly doesn't shine anymore. Carsten Pieper
supported by 67 fans who also own “Tears from the Sun”
BBT are standard bearers for modern prog, with a sound that evokes the spirit of those legendary 70s bands whilst managing to also be thoroughly contemporary. It's astonishing that over 30 minutes of music of this quality, with such high production values, is being made available for free - and their full albums are also very reasonably priced... Eleventh Earl of Blah