The Crown is Made of Lead (1)

Name: The Crown is Made of Lead (1)
Duration: 296 s
APWBD2000
0 plays·0 likes·4:55
Prompt / Lyrics
[Verse 1]
The city breathes, a beast within the night
And I’m the one who holds the leash so tight.
The sirens wail like widows in the rain,
I built this kingdom on a floor of pain.
I check the ledgers, count the souls I own,
The most powerful man... and the most alone.
They think I’m made of marble, cold and grand,
But the ink is shaking in my withered hand.

[Pre-Chorus]
A knock at the door, a shadow on the floor,
Every "Yes, Boss" feels like a declaration of war.
I wear the silk, I wear the custom hide,
To mask the rot that’s eating me inside.

[Chorus]
For the crown is made of lead, not gold,
A heavy weight for a heart grown old.
They see the rings, the suit, the frozen stare,
They don’t see the ghost gasping for air.
One slip of the tongue, one blink of the eye,
And the vultures descend from the darkening sky.
Smile at the devil, keep the blade out of sight,
The King of the City is a slave to the light.

[Verse 2]
Sixty years of dust upon my boots,
I tried to branch out, but I hate the roots.
I’ve settled debts with blood and bags of coin,
Waiting for the moment when the shadows join.
My captains wait downstairs with bated breath,
They don’t want a leader, they’re just courting death.
They respect the fear, they don’t respect the man,
I’m just the architect of a dying plan.

[Bridge]
[The music gets louder, brass instruments come in aggressively.]
I want to lay it down! I want to let it go!
But the things I’ve done... they’re the things they know!
If I step aside, if I break the chain,
Who’s gonna stop the coming of the rain?
If I show a crack, if I show a tear,
Everything I’ve built will disappear!

[Broadway-Belting]
NOT YET! NOT TODAY!

[Guitar Solo / Orchestral Break]
[The music swells dramatically]

[Final Chorus]
Because the crown is made of lead, not gold,
And I’m the only one who can keep the hold!
They see the rings, the suit, the frozen stare,
But God... I’m gasping for a breath of air!
I’ll smile at the devil, keep the blade out of sight,
The King of the City... stays the King tonight!

[Outro]
[The music suddenly fades to silence. Only the lone piano remains]
The city breathes.
The beast is still.
I’ve got one more day...
By the strength of my will.