(Intro – whispered, slow, echo-laden) Once upon a midnight dreary... While I pondered, weak and weary... Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore... (beat builds – faint ticking clock) While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping... As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door — (beat kicks) “’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “rapping at my chamber door — Only this, and nothing more.” (Verse 1 – steady flow) Bleak December, I remember — cold wind crawlin’ ‘cross the floor, Every ember paintin’ phantoms, ghostly dancers at my door. Dreams of Lenore still linger, whisper soft like distant choir, Every thought a dying cinder, every breath a faded fire. Heart heavy, eyes blurry, mind lost in lore, Searchin’ through the pages for the girl I’ll see no more. Then that rustle — silk and sorrow — purple curtains tremble low, Like a heartbeat from the darkness, sayin’ things I shouldn’t know. (Pre-Chorus – voice layered, reverb-heavy) “’Tis the wind,” I said — “or fate at my door.” But the knock came again, louder than before... (Hook – chant-like) And the Raven — Never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting — On the bust of Pallas, watchin’ me with eyes that glisten. Every word it speaks a prison, Every echo cuts incision, And my soul beneath that shadow Shall be lifted — nevermore. (Verse 2 – beat grows darker, tempo quickens) Opened wide the door to darkness, called her name into the void, “Lenore?” — the echo answered back, the sound of hope destroyed. Nothing there — just the silence and my heart’s unholy roar, Till that tapping came again, this time from the window’s core. Flung the shutter — feathers flutter — in it came, the bird of yore, Like a king from cursed kingdoms, glidin’ ‘cross the marble floor. Not a bow nor hesitation — just a stare that froze my chest, Perched upon the bust of Pallas, never movin’, never rest. (Verse 3 – complex internal rhymes) Said I, “Raven, dark and ancient, comin’ from Plutonian shore, Tell me what thy name is — speak, oh prophet, I implore!” Voice like thunder through the chamber, shook my faith to its core, From its beak there broke one word — a single wound: “Nevermore.” Echo crawled along the ceiling, echo sank into the floor, Like a curse that kept on breathin’, ever louder than before. And I laughed, though nerves were frayin’, “Birds can’t speak of Heaven’s door!” But the silence said I’m lyin’, and the Raven said — “Nevermore.” (Bridge – slower, introspective) Maybe just a broken echo from a master dead and gone, Whose despair became a mantra, carved in night, passed on and on. Still I sat, that black-eyed watcher burnin’ holes into my core, Dreamin’ dreams no man should dream — ‘til I could dream no more. Head reclinin’, heart declinin’, velvet cushions, candle’s gleam, In the mirror of its pupils saw the ruins of my dream. That same velvet once her shadow pressed forever on before — But her touch, her voice, her laughter — I shall know them... nevermore. (Verse 4 – beat swells, strings and choir join) Then the air grew thick, like incense from an unseen angel’s wing, Every breath a bell of judgement, every heartbeat echoing. “Wretch!” I cried, “if there be mercy, let this potion heal the sore! Grant me peace, forget my sorrow, bring me back my lost Lenore!” But the bird, unblessed, unbending, answered coldly from the door, With that word that shatters heaven — “Nevermore.” (Verse 5 – rising fury) “Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil! Bird or devil! Tempest’s core! Tell me truly — by that Heaven, by the God we both adore — In that far and distant Aidenn, will I clasp my love once more?” Eyes like fire, no compassion, whispered low that word once more: “Nevermore.” (beat drops — silence but low bass pulse) “Then be gone!” I cried, half-madness dripping from my tongue and floor. “Take thy form and take thy shadow! Leave me lonely as before!” But it stayed — that cursed statue of my grief and my remorse, Still upon the bust of Pallas, watchin’ me forevermore. (Final Hook – layered vocals, choir echoes) And the Raven — Never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting, On the pallid bust of Pallas, eyes of midnight never quitting. And the lamplight o’er him streaming Throws my shadow on the floor, And my soul beneath that shadow Shall be lifted — nevermore. (Outro – whisper, fading echo, piano only) Nevermore... (beat fades, ticking clock returns) Nevermore... (heartbeat slows, silence) Nevermore.
