[Intro — Detuned piano, slow clap, whispering crowd]
Ladies and gentlemen,
hold onto your throats.
The show is about to begin.
⸻
[Verse 1 — Talk-sung, theatrical menace]
Spotlight flickers, powder on skin,
Smile stitched sharp, let the nightmare in.
Corset tight and the truth undone,
Say hello to the damage we’ve become.
Red curtains breathing like a lung,
Every joke tastes better with blood on the tongue.
They paid for laughter, they’ll stay for the fear—
Don’t look away, sweetheart, the ending’s here.
⸻
[Pre-Chorus — Rising piano, whispered backing vocals]
Clap real loud, don’t miss your cue,
The rope looks prettier when it’s new.
⸻
[Chorus — Big, grotesque, irresistible]
Applause for the hangman,
Isn’t he kind?
He keeps such good time
while he’s losing his mind.
Laugh, my darling, don’t ask “why,”
The punchline lands when the dancers die.
Applause for the hangman—
Smile wide. Smile wide.
⸻
[Verse 2 — Faster, playful cruelty]
Tap shoes click like counting down,
Every step another body hits the ground.
Trumpets scream like they’ve seen it all,
Drums roll deep for the curtain call.
Confetti made of broken vows,
Take a bow—no, take it now.
If this feels wrong, you’re right on track,
We only love you when you clap.
⸻
[Pre-Chorus — Stop-start, teasing]
Hands together, don’t be shy,
He swings best when spirits are high.
⸻
[Chorus — Louder, brass snarling]
Applause for the hangman,
Dressed to impress,
Silk on the noose,
Blood on the dress.
Cheer like it hurts, scream like you care,
The house stays standing if nobody stares.
Applause for the hangman—
Smile wide. Smile wide.
⸻
[Bridge — Cabaret breakdown / spoken monologue]
(spoken, slow, intimate)
You came for the spectacle.
You stayed for the release.
(sung, eerie harmony)
We don’t need justice,
we don’t need truth—
Just someone to blame
and a pretty excuse.
⸻
[Dance Break — Twisted swing instrumental]
(Clarinet spirals, bass walks crooked, piano pounds wrong notes)
⸻
[Final Chorus — Frenzied, decadent horror]
Applause for the hangman,
Encore tonight!
He’ll dance with the dead
under neon gaslight.
If the rope snaps loose, we’ll tie it again—
The show must go on ‘til it eats all your friends.
Applause for the hangman—
Smile wide.
Smile until it hurts.
⸻
[Outro — Piano collapses, whisper in your ear]
Thank you for attending.
You were… wonderful.
(One last slow clap. Silence.)
Belltower622
