There's a prison in Byzantium
where men say God will not tread.
Led in chains to dwell in darkness
sinless souls are drowned in dread.
The Priest - King of Byzantium
rules through strength and fear,
abuses power to repress
freedoms the good revere. 

The men who built Byzantium
were broken on the wheel.
For all its gold and shining marble
the glory is not real.
In a courtroom in Byzantium
human nature is on trial.
The truth - seeker and rebel
are coerced into denial.

A land lies beyond the North Wind
where the spirit can grow free,
where the dogmas of Byzantium
hold no authority,
where an all - forgiving mother
would hold all in her embrace
while the Priest - King of Byzantium
rails against love and grace.