Wilted Crowns

They wore their crowns of iron thorns Before the rust and time had worn Their glory down to dust and rot Now I inherit what they're not The ballroom's full of broken glass The throne room's where the shadows pass The crown jewels are tarnished black There's no way forward, no way back What falls apart still holds its shape What dies still wears its wedding cape What rots can still remember gold What's sold can never be re-sold Wilted crowns on wilted heads Royal blood on royal beds All the glory turned to shame But I still bear the family name Wilted thorns on wilted vines Broken thrones and broken lines Everything they built has drowned But I will wear this wilted crown The portraits show them at their peak Before their power made them weak Before the manor took its price Before they fed it sacrifice I look just like they did before The thorns took root beneath the floor I'm standing where they stood and fell I'll join them in this beautiful hell What falls apart still holds its shape What dies still wears its wedding cape What rots can still remember gold I am the ending they foretold Wilted crowns on wilted heads Royal blood on royal beds All the glory turned to shame But I still bear the family name Wilted thorns on wilted vines Broken thrones and broken lines Everything they built has drowned But I will wear this wilted crown They thought the power was worth the cost They didn't know what would be lost They traded everything they had For thorns and rot and going mad But I'm not them — I CHOOSE this fate I walk willingly through the gate If I'm to fall, I'll fall with pride A wilted crown — but worn with eyes open wide [Wilted crowns on wilted heads (I'll wear it) Royal blood on royal beds (I'll share it) All the glory turned to shame (I'll claim it) But I still bear the family name (I'll name it) Wilted thorns on wilted vines Broken thrones and broken lines Everything they built has drowned And I will RISE in this wilted crown