[Verse 1] When war was done, I thought we'd finished with the shapes that war required: generals, orders, ranks and banners, all the powers fear inspired. We had called such things necessity. I believed necessity would end. Then the armies kept their leaders, and the leaders kept command. [Pre-Chorus] A title given out of gratitude, a chair kept warm another year. No one wakes and calls himself a god. It happens slowly, through our fear. [Chorus] First the general, then the ruler, then the hand no law could stay. Then the bowed head, then the altar, then the name we learned to praise. Nothing changed in any moment one could point to and condemn. Only every year we yielded something we had been to them. [Verse 2] Elgar'nahn called strength protection. After war, the frightened agreed. Mythahl spoke of wiser guidance, what the wounded people need. I could understand the reasoning. That perhaps was worst of all. Every chain began as shelter. Every throne began that small. Falon'Din desired devotion, found that worship fed his pride. Soon he waged his wars for reverence, left the faithless where they died. Blood can teach the head submission. Fear can make resistance cease. We condemned his naked hunger, then returned to our own peace. [Chorus] First the general, then the ruler, then the hand no law could stay. Then the bowed head, then the altar, then the name we learned to praise. Nothing changed in any moment one could point to and condemn. Only every year we yielded something we had been to them. [Verse 3] Ghilan'nain had shaped the living, gifted hands and restless mind. Now the helpless were her subjects, flesh remade to her design. I believed that love had led her down a path she might regret. Thought that Andru-eel's favor tempted. She had chosen every step. I mistook affection for the reason, thought ambition came from need. Power had not changed her purpose; power let the purpose feed. She had found what she desired long before they gave her reach. Nothing Andru-eel had persuaded. There was nothing I could teach. [Pre-Chorus] I wrote as though a wiser argument might call her better nature home. She answered with ambition. Some choices are entirely our own. [Chorus] First the general, then the ruler, then the hand no law could stay. Then the bowed head, then the altar, then the name we learned to praise. Nothing changed in any moment one could point to and condemn. Only every year we yielded something we had been to them. [Verse 4] There were always explanations. I supplied a few myself. Fear can make a tyrant useful. Love can compromise the self. Someone has to guide the frightened. Someone has to keep the peace. Someone has to wield the weapon until danger has decreased. But danger has a way of lingering when authority depends on the people still believing only power can defend. Years became a hundred years. A hundred more became a throne. What began as temporary learned to justify its own. [Bridge] And Mithahl— you restrained them when they faltered. You opposed them at their worst. You could humble Falon'Din when adoration became thirst. You could wrestle down the madness. You could make the proud concede. So I told myself your presence was the limit they would heed. But each time you checked their excess, still the structure would remain. Every monster could be managed. Every wound could be contained. You believed that standing with them gave you power to make them wise. I believed that you would leave them. For a very long time, I believed that. [Instrumental] [Verse 5] I watched honors become worship. I watched service become chains. Saw the markings worn by servants made the language of domain. Saw the mighty call themselves eternal, heard the frightened call it true. Saw obedience dressed as virtue. And kept looking back to you. Not because I thought you blameless. Not because we still agreed. But I'd taken form beside you when you told me there was need. I had trusted you with judgment when I doubted my own sight. How many centuries must pass before patience becomes complicity? [Final Chorus] First the general, then the ruler. Then the ruler calls it right. Then the altar. Then the branding. Then the master made divine. Nothing changed in any moment. That was how it changed at all. Every compromise was reasonable. Every answer built the wall. I have heard enough explanations. I have offered them myself. Fear does not make chains protection. Love does not absolve the self. If their heaven needs submission, if their peace requires the bowed, then whatever names they give themselves— they are not gods they are not gods they are not gods they are not gods they are not gods
