Mumford & Sons ‘Babel Album’ (2012) Tracklist, Cover Art, Lyrics

Tracklist

Babel

Whispers in the Dark

I Will Wait

Holland Road

Ghosts That We Knew

Lover of the Light

Lovers' Eyes

Reminder

Hopeless Wanderer

Broken Crown

Below My Feet

Not With Haste

For Those Below (Deluxe edition track)

The Boxer (featuring Jerry Douglas and Paul Simon) (Deluxe edition track)

Where Are You Now (Deluxe edition track)

Lyrics

Babel Lyrics - Mumford & Sons

'Cause I know that time has numbered my days

And I’ll go along with everything you say

But I’ll ride home laughing, look at me now

The walls of my town, they come crumbling down

And my ears hear the call of my unborn sons

And I know their choices color all I’ve done

But I’ll explain it all to the watchman’s son,

I never lived a year better spent in love

'Cause I know my weakness know my voice, so now believe in grace and choice

And I know perhaps my heart is farce, but I’ll be born without a mask

Like the city that nurtured my greed and my pride, I stretch my arms into the sky

I cry Babel! Babel! Look at me now

Then the walls of my town, they come crumbling down

You ask where will we stand in the winds that will howl,

As all we see will slip into the cloud

So come down from your mountain and stand where we’ve been,

You know our breath is weak and our body thin

Press my nose up to the glass around your heart

I should’ve known I was weaker from the start

You’ll build your walls and I will play my bloody part

To tear, tear them down Well I’m gonna tear, tear them down

'Cause I know my weakness know my voice, but I believe in grace and choice

And I know perhaps my heart is farce, but I’ll be born without a mask

Whispers In The Dark Lyrics - Mumford & Sons

You hold your truth so purely

Well swerve not trough the minds of men

This lie is dead

And this cup of yours tastes holy

But a brush with the Devil can clear your mind

And strengthen you spine

But fingers tap into what you were once

And I'm worried that I blew my only chance

Whispers in the dark

Steal a kiss and you'll break your heart

Pick up your clothes and curl your toes

Learn your lesson, lead me home

Spare my sins for the ark

I was too slow to deport

I'm a cad but I'm not a fraud

I'd set out to serve the Lord

But my heart was colder when you'd gone

And I lost my head but found the one that I love

Under the sun, under the sun

But fingers tap into what you were once

And I'm worried that I blew my only chance

Fingers tap into what you were once

And I'm worried that I blew my only chance

But my heart was colder when you'd gone

And I lost my head

Let's live while we are young

While we are young, while are young

While we are young

I Will Wait Lyrics - Mumford & Sons  

And I came home

Like a stone

And I fell heavy into your arms

These days of dust

Which we've known

Will blow away with this new sun

And I'll kneel down

Wait for now

And I'll kneel down

Know my ground

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

So break my step

And relent

You forgave and I won't forget

Know what we've seen

And him with less

Now in some way

Shake the excess

But I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

So I'll be bold

As well as strong

And use my head alongside my heart

So take my flesh

And fix my eyes

That tethered mind free from the lies

But I'll kneel down

Wait for now

I'll kneel down

Know my ground

Raise my hands

Paint my spirit gold

And bow my head

Keep my heart slow

'Cause I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

Holland Road Lyrics - Mumford & Sons

So I was lost

Go count the cost, before you go

To the Holland road with your heart like a stone

You spared no time in lashing out

And I knew your pain and the effect of my shame

But you cut me down, You cut me down

And I will not tell the thoughts of hell

That carried me home from the Holland road

With my heart like a stone I put up no fight

To your calloused mind and from your corner you rose

To cut me down, You cut me down

So I hit my low

Little did I know that would not be the end

From the Holland road well I rose and I rose

And I paid less time to you calloused mind

And I wished you well as you cut me down You cut me down

But I still believe though there's cracks you'll see

When I'm on my knees I'll still believe

And when I've hit the ground Neither lost nor found

If you'll believe in me I'll still believe

But I still believe though there's cracks you'll see

When I'm on my knees I'll still believe

And when I've hit the ground Neither lost nor found

If you'll believe in me I'll still believe

Ghosts That We Knew Lyrics - Mumford & Sons

You saw my pain, washed out in the rain

Broken glass, saw the blood run from my veins

But you saw no fault, no cracks in my heart

And you knelt beside, my hope torn apart

But the ghosts that we knew

Will flicker from view

And we'll live a long life

So give me hope in the darkness

That I will see the light

Cause oh, they gave me such a fright

But I will hold as long as you like

Just promise me we'll be alright

So lead me back, turn south from that place

And close my eyes, to my recent disgrace

Cause you know my call, and will share my all

And our children come and they will hear me roar

So give me hope in the darkness

That I will see the light

Cause oh, they gave me such a fright

But I will hold as long as you like

Just promise me we'll be alright

But hold me still, bury my heart on the cold

And hold me still, bury my heart next to yours

So give me hope in the darkness

That I will see the light

Cause oh, they gave me such a fright

But I will hold on with all of my might

Just promise me we'll be alright

But the ghosts that we knew

Made us black and all blue

And we'll live a long life

And the ghosts that we knew

Will flicker from view

And we'll live a long life

Lover Of The Light Lyrics - Mumford & Sons

In the middle of the night, I may watch you go

There'll be no value in the strength of walls that I have grown

There'll be no comfort in the shade of the shadows thrown

But I'll be yours if you'll be mine

Stretch out my life and pick the seams out

Take what you like, but close my ears and eyes

Watch me stumble over and over

I have done wrong, so build your tower

But call me home and I will build a throne

And wash my eyes out never again

But love the one you hold

And I'll be your goal

To have and to hold

A lover of the light

Skin too tight and eyes like marbles

You spin me high so watch me as I glide

Before I tumble homeward, homeward

I know I tried, I was not stable

Flawed by pride, I miss my sanguine eyes

So hold my hands up...breathe in, breathe out.

But love the one you hold

And I'll be your goal

To have and to hold

A lover of the light

And in the middle of the night, I may watch you go

There'll be no value in the strength of walls that I have grown

There'll be no comfort in the shade of the shadows thrown

You may not trust the promises of the change I'll show

But I'll be yours if you'll be mine

So love the one you hold

And I will be your goal

To have and to hold

A lover of the light

So love the one you hold

And I will be your goal

To have and to hold

A lover of the light

Lovers' Eyes Lyrics - Mumford & Sons

Love was kind, for a time

Now just aches and it makes me blind

This mirror holds my eyes too bright

I can't see the others in my life

Were we too young? And heads too strong?

To bear the weight of these lover's eyes.

'Cause I feel numb, beneath your tongue

Neath the curse of these lover's eyes.

But do not ask the price I pay,

I must live with my quiet rage,

Tame the ghosts in my head,

That run wild and wish me dead.

Should you shake my ash to the wind

Lord, forget all of my sins

Oh, let me die where I lie

Neath the curse of my lover's eyes.

There's no drink nor drug I tried

To rid the curse of these lover's eyes

And I feel numb, beneath your tongue

Your strength just makes me feel less strong

But do not ask the price I pay,

I must live with my quiet rage,

Tame the ghosts in my head,

That run wild and wish me dead.

Should you shake my ash to the wind

Lord, forget all of my sins

Oh, let me die where I lie

Neath the curse of my lover's eyes.

And I'll walk slow, I'll walk slow

Take my hand, help me on my way.

And I'll walk slow, I'll walk slow

Take my hand, I'll be on my way.

And I'll walk slow, I'll walk slow

Take my hand, help me on my way.

And I'll walk slow, I'll walk slow

Take my hand, I'll be on my way.

La la la, La la la, La la la, la la

La la la, La la la, La la la, la la

Reminder Lyrics - Mumford & Sons

Don't let me darken your door

That's not what I came here for

No it's not what I came here for

And I won't hear you cry when I'm gone

I won't know if I'm doing you wrong

I never know if I'm doing you wrong

A constant reminder of where I can find her

A light that might give up the way

Is all that I'm asking for

without her I'm lost

But my love, dont' fade away

So I watched the world tear us apart

A stoic mind and a bleeding heart

You never see my bleeding heart

And your light's always shining on

And I've been traveling oh so long

I've been traveling oh so long

A constant reminder of where I can find her

Light that might give up the way

Is all that I'm asking for without her I'm lost

Oh my love dont' fade away

Oh my love don't fade away

Hopeless Wanderer Lyrics - Mumford & Sons

You heard my voice I came out of the woods by choice

Shelter also gave their shade

And in the dark I have no name

So leave that click in my head

And I will remember the words that you said

Left a clouded mind and a heavy heart

But I am sure we'll see a new start

So when your hopes on fire

But you know your desire

Don't hold a glass over the flame

Don't let your heart grow cold

I will call you by name

I will share your road

Hold me fast, Hold me fast

Cause I'm a hopeless wanderer

Hold me fast, Hold me fast

Cause I'm a hopeless wanderer

I wrestled long with my youth

We tried so hard to live in the truth

But do not tell me all is fine

When I lose my head, I lose my spine

So leave that click in my head

And I won't remember the words that you said

You brought me out from the cold

Now, how I long, how I long to grow old

So when your hope's on fire

But you know your desire

Don't hold a glass over the flame

Don't let your heart grow cold

I will call you by name

I will share your road

Hold me fast, Hold me fast

Cause I'm a hopeless wanderer

Hold me fast, Hold me fast

Cause I'm a hopeless wanderer

I will learn, I will learn to love the skies I'm under

I will learn, I will learn to love the skies I'm under

The skies I'm under

Broken Crown Lyrics - Mumford & Sons

Touch my mouth and hold my tongue

I'll never be your chosen one

I'll be home safely tucked away

WellYou can't tempt me if I don't see the day

The pull on my flesh was just to strong

Stifled the choice and the air in my lungs

Better not to breathe than to breathe a lie

Cause when I opened my body I breathe alive

I will not speak of your sins

There was a way out for him

The mirrors shows not

Your values are all shot

But oh my heart, was flawed I knew my weakness

So hold my hand consign me not to darkness

Crawl on my belly till the sun goes down

I'll never wear your broken crown

I took the road and fucked it all away

In this twilight, how dare you speak of grace

Crawl on my belly till the sun goes down

I'll never wear your broken crown

I took the road and fucked it all away

In this twilight, how dare you speak of grace

Crawl on my belly till the sun goes down

I'll never wear your broken crown

I can take the road and I can fuck it all away

In this twilight, our choices seal our fate

Below My Feet Lyrics - Mumford & Sons

You were cold as the blood through your bones

And the light which led us from our chosen homes

Well I was lost

And now I sleep

Sleep the hours and that I can't weep

When all I knew was steeped in blackened holes

Well I was lost

Keep the earth below my feet

For all my sweat, my blood runs weak

Let me learn from where I have been

Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn

Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn

So I was still

I was under your spell

When I was told by Jesus all was well

So all must be well

Just give me time

You know your desires and mine

Wrap my flesh in ivy and in twine

For I must be well

Keep the earth below my feet

For all my sweat, my blood runs weak

Let me learn from where I have been

So keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn

Well keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn

Keep the earth below my feet

For all my sweat, my blood runs weak

Let me learn from where I have been

Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn

Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn

Not With Haste Lyrics - Mumford & Sons

Your eyes they tie me down so hard

I'll never learn to put up a guard

So keep my love, my candle bright

Learn me hard, oh learn me right

This ain't no sham

I am what I am

Though I may speak some tongue of old

Or even spit out some holy word

I have no strength from which to speak

When you sit me down, and see i'm weak

We will run and scream

You will dance with me

They'll fulfill our dreams and we'll be free

And we will be who we are

And they'll heal our scars

Sadness will be far away

So as we walked through fields of green

Was the fiarest sun I'd ever seen

And I was broke, I was on my knees

And you said yes as I said please

This ain't no sham

I am what I am

I leave no time

for a cynic's mind

We will run and scream

You will dance with me

Fulfill our dreams and we'll be free

We will be who we are

And they'll heal our scars

Sadness will be far away

Do not let my fickle flesh go to waste

As it keeps my heart and soul in it's place

And I will love with urgency but not with haste

For Those Below Lyrics - Mumford & Sons

Helpless she lies across the stairs

Haunting your days consuming your breath

There will be healing but don't force this girl to stand

As she's counting the ceilings with pale voice and trembling hands

You told me life was long but now that it's gone

You find yourself on top as the leader of the flock

Called to be around for those below

Whispered notes from the piano in the corner of the room

Hold your throat is that healing that your hearing in her tune

Wanting change but loving her just as she lies

Is the burden of the man who's built his life on love

You told me life was long but now that it's gone

You find yourself on top as the leader of the flock

Called to be around for those below

I'll be locked up in a store

In the lavender ward

Cause my mind is just like her's

Just as broken just as crippled just as burned

And then I find myself on top as the leader of the flock

Called to be around for those below

The Boxer Lyrics - Mumford & Sons

I am just a poor boy

Though my story seldom told

I squandered my resistance

For a pocket full of mumbles such are promises

All lies and jests

Still a man hears

What he wants to hear

And disregards the rest

When I left my home and my family

I was no more than a boy

In the company of strangers

In the quiet of the railway stations running scared

Laying low seeking out the poor quarters

Where the ragged people go

Looking for the places

Only they would know

Asking only workman's wages

I come looking for a job

But I get no offers

Just a come on

From the whores of seventh avenue

I do declare there were times

That I was so lonesome

I took some comfort there

Then I'm laying down my winter clothes

And wishing I was gone going home

Where the New York City winters

Are bleeding me, bleeding me going home

In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade

And he carries the reminder of every glove that laid him down

And cut him till he cried out in his anger and his shame

I am leaving I am leaving but the fighter sill remains

Where Are You Now Lyrics - Mumford & Sons

It came to the end it seems you had heard

As we walked the city streets

You never said a word

When we finally sat down

Your eyes were full of spite

I was desperate, I was sweet

I could not put up a fight

But where are you now?

Where are you now?

Do you ever think of me

In the quiet, in the crowd?

You were strangely less than pain

Than you were cold.

Triumphant in your mind

Of the logic that you hold

You said no one would ever know

The love that we had shared.

As I took my leave to go

It was clear you didn't care

Where are you now?

Where are you now?

Do you ever think of me

In the quiet, in the crowd?

Where are you now?

Where are you now?

Do you ever think of me

In the quiet, in the crowd?

And I hear of your coming

And your going in the town

I hear stories of your smile

I hear stories of your frown

And the darkness can descend

We can relish all the pain

But I know that's what you love

Cause you know I love the same

Where are you now?

Where are you now?

Do you ever think of me

In the quiet, in the crowd?

Where are you now?

Where are you now?

Do you ever think of me

In the quiet, in the crowd?

Where are you now?

Where are you now?

Do you ever think of me

In the quiet, in the crowd?

Where are you now?

Where are you now?

Do you ever think of me

In the quiet, in the crowd?