[Verse 1] You shook my hand beneath the flags And counted what the handshake buys A river bent around the mines A border drawn with borrowed lines The waiter cleared the silverware While ministers rehearsed concern You spoke of peace with careful teeth And watched the market candles burn [Pre-Chorus] Every promise wore a tailored coat Every silence signed a secret note [Chorus] Realpolitik, darling, turn the wheel Say what must be said, conceal what must be real Raise a glass to principles, then invoice every vow The map is folded neatly—who owns the valley now? Realpolitik, darling, keep your face serene The cleanest hands are hidden underneath the scene [Verse 2] A general praised the coming spring A banker named the price of rain The cameras caught your solemn eyes They missed the soldiers on the train You offered bread, I offered ports We traded futures over tea By dawn the treaty found its shape A little less of you, a little less of me [Pre-Chorus] Every anthem softened at the door Every conscience learned what silence’s for [Chorus] Realpolitik, darling, turn the wheel Say what must be said, conceal what must be real Raise a glass to principles, then invoice every vow The map is folded neatly—who owns the valley now? Realpolitik, darling, keep your face serene The cleanest hands are hidden underneath the scene [Bridge] When the chandeliers go dark And the portraits lose their names Will the ledgers call it wisdom? Will the dead accept the game? I found your red ink on my sleeve I found my signature in yours Two polite ghosts in evening clothes Still bargaining behind closed doors [Final Chorus] Realpolitik, darling, turn the wheel Say what must be said, conceal what must be real Raise a glass to principles, then invoice every vow The map is folded neatly—who owns the valley now? Realpolitik, darling, let the hall applaud A little faith for ceremony, a little blood for God When every side has won its share and every truth is thin We leave the table spotless, with the losing side within [Outro] Fold the map and dim the room Let the courteous engines hum Tomorrow wears the same disguise And signs its name beneath our eyes
