Do you know why C++ is so widespread?

Because it's a good language. So are C and Java.

IIRC, GCC internally translates C/C++ into Lisp-like language, with sexps and the crud. It even does transformation into continuation-passing-style:
http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gccint/Gimplification-pass.html

You cant run from Lisp, bitch.