Sunsets on Empire

It's very odd how personal problems in the life of one of my favorite musicians, Fish, neatly coincide with personal troubles of my own. I got to "know" Fish when he was still the singer in Marillion. He left the band shortly after my family left Chicago and moved 300 miles away to rural Wisconsin; some major problems in his marriage occurred at the same time I exited the longest relationship of my life; his divorce happened at the same time I broke up with another girlfriend; and now he has broken up with his latest girlfriend. So I'm listening to one of my favorite Fish songs, one that has been like a friend to me over the past 10+ years - "Sunsets on Empire".

And then it was over and we took our applause.
We passed the peace pipe and thought no more
About the scenes that were missing, about the lines we had crossed.
And we smiled at each other and knew that the moment was lost.

I let you snuff out the candles, I let you blow out the flame,
And I knew that this time it would never be the same.
The smiles you had wavered, tears welled in your eyes
And I looked and I knew that this magic it was only a sign
For Sunsets on Empire it was only a dream.
I knew that it was broken when I heard you scream
I know you can't believe it. It meant nothing at all.
And we looked at each other and we smiled and the moment was gone.
Sunsets on Empire is this really the end
Sunsets on Empire left with a friend
Could have been a lover, could have been a wife
But when it comes right down to it all I want is a life,
Just a life.

You said it never mattered. You said it's just a thrill.
You couldn't beat it. Another bitter pill.
It never was a habit. A one off just for sure.
You never really thought it out but I hoped that one time
That you'd come back for more.

Sunsets on Empire that's where I am
Sunsets on Empire that's all we have.
To face a new beginning when you're so close to the end
And you looked at me gently and smiled,
Would you still be my friend?

You started to smile
Is this really the end?
Is this really the end?
Sunsets on Empire
The sun sets on Empire