De kleuren van de steden

In the colors of the cities
The world falls into place,
Standing tall and steady,
And it shows off its grace
With the brilliant tones
From a wild prism's glow
Where people can find a home
In a vibrant dream, you know,
Can find a home in a vibrant dream.

Let the colors of the cities
Entice us to a smile,
And keep us from withering
In questionable style,
Like frozen wannabes
With no life in their veins,
No flowers in the windows
Of their high-status chains,
In the windows of their high-status chains.

With acrylic or pure oil,
Matte pastels or watercolor;
In the hunt of daily life,
Colors are in the score
That dress the streets up
Into tempting dames,
Who showcase their beauty
In the lights of the trams,
Showcase their beauty in the lights of the trams.

Go and see, and realize
That the rainbow fades away
In the bold reflection
Of the paint that you can smell
On the doors and the walls
Of cafes and restaurants,
At Chinese spots and Italians
In Shanghai and Avignon,
At Chinese spots in Shanghai and Avignon.

It's by my own free will
That I no longer leave the town;
Whether in Ghent, Madrid, or Rome,
I feel best on the ground,
Among human colors,
Between sorrow and delight,
And demons that pull me
Along the roads of time,
Until words and thoughts
Inevitably decay
And the colors of the city fade away.