Steel in the skies and the road,
Somehow travelling far
Chasing a dream of the west
Made with iron and stone
These are old hills that stand in the way
(Breaking the line)
It came out of the storm, out of the sea
(To the permanent way)
Using just available light
He could still see far
Deep in the heart of the land
Breaking through the old stone
Chasing the trail of the water
Down through underground streams
Working the way through the valleys and fields
(Grass grown hills and stone)
Parting the land with the mark of man
(The permanent way)
Using just available light
He could still see
(Far) Far
(Skies) Skies
(Deep) Deep
(Time) Time
These are old places stood in the way
(Low cloud comes to ground)
The grey and the green and the bold and the brave
(On the permanent way)
Using just available light
He could still see far
He could still see far
He could still see far
Oh, using just available light
He could still see far
Twelve stones from the water
Continents apart
The clouds are gathering again
Filling up the sky
It rains on England
Roofless engine houses
Distant hills like bookends
Frame electrical storms
Moving out to sea (Moving out, moving out)
Away from England
Those days have gone, those days...
Those days have gone, those days...
Those days have gone
Their names are lost
The stories left untold
Those days have gone
Those days!
The stories left untold
Under an ordinary star
We are just moments of time
It is the end of the line
This place is worked out
Those days have gone
Their names are lost
(Those...)
The stories left untold
A faultline opens in the ground
Waves make their way to the shore
This is the end of the line
(This is the time worn and broken)
Hey yeah
These things have faded with the light
Few know the stories now
This is the end of the line (this is the time)
Worn and broken
This is the end of the line
Time worn and broken
Under steel grey skies he is drawn across the river
No bands played, there was no sound
A sunray met the dark of the fuller's earth
It is gone now, it is over
All good things and everything
This used to be a railway town
Now we're travelling without knowing
Without meaning
Light bleeds from the world
Starcross, the Underfall Yard
The iron and the stone is broken
The dream of the Western mind
Searching for reason
Is gone now
These are old places stood in the way
(Grass grown hills and stone)
Parting the land with the mark of man
(The permanent way)
Using just available light
He could still see far
Oh, twelve stones from the water
Clouds fill the sky
Rain down, rain down
On England
Oh, twelve stones from the water
Clouds fill the sky
Rain down, rain down
On England
Twelve stones from the water
Rain!
Oh, rain down