Martini Russa - City of Ghosts (Official Video)

Original song by Martini Russa about abandoned towns due to human-made disasters such as the ghost town of Pripyat’ near Chernobyl, or due to armed conflicts such as the once fancy tourist town of Varosha after the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. This song was also inspired in part by the Arab Spring, as evidenced by the first lines of the lyrics: “Lay down your arms - spring has come,” - and in part by Alan Weisman’s book The World Without Us, which explores what would happen to our cities if human race were to suddenly disappear. It was the first song Martini and Anastasia worked on upon meeting each other in Barcelona, Spain, and although City of Ghosts is a rock ballad, there are elements of flamenco in Martini’s guitar melodies. Recorded and mixed by Ilya Gorokhvodatsky at DTH Studios, Moscow, Russia. Mastered by Turan Audio in Oxford, UK. Vocals and acoustic guitar: Anastasia; Electric guitars: Martini; Drums: Ruslan “Drumming Fox“ Parkanov; Bass: William Sitnin. Original footage by Martini Russa, Andrey Petrovsky, Ekaterina Gaeva, S2R Studios. Video by S2R Studios. Lay down your arms Spring has come Divided we conquer no one Rules of the land With fire in their hands Those who believe The means justify their ends War everywhere, but there’s nothing to fear anymore So many years, the waves have reclaimed the shore Can you see people leave? They flee to avoid their doom In this city of ghosts – forever in bloom This used to be your home Where’s your Right to Return? There used to be sun Now it never will warm anyone You could turn it around You could build it up from the ground But damage is done, damage is already done War everywhere, but there’s nothing to fear anymore So many years, the waves have reclaimed the shore Can you see people leave? They flee to avoid their doom In this city of ghosts – forever in bloom Forever in bloom The world without us Will not miss a beat Sharp blades of grass Grow under our feet The smell of defeat Like summer so sweet It shatters like glass This world around us This world without us Will not miss a beat Sharp blades of grass Grow under our feet The smell of defeat Like summer so sweet It shatters like glass This world around us War everywhere, but there’s nothing to fear anymore So many years, the waves have reclaimed the shore Can you see people leave? They flee to avoid their doom In this city of ghosts – forever in bloom Forever in bloom Nothing to fear, there’s nothing to fear Nothing to fear Forever In bloom, in bloom Forever in bloom, bloom Forever