[Intro] He watched her shake Till the dark went thin Then the quiet broke And the king came back in [Verse 1] Crown in the grass Started lookin’ like a blade He picked it up slow Like a vow that he made She still in the stitches Still flinchin’ at air He kissed a button Put the height in his stare “I sat through the nightmares I sat through the screams I can’t take what they did I can’t take what it means” [Pre-Chorus] They tore you for walkin’ They tore you for peace They called it protection It was hunger with teeth I breathed you back open I held you through hell Now I want the whole town In the shape of farewell [Chorus] I promise retribution I promise the tear They don’t get to sleep While you’re fightin’ for air I can’t take it longer I can’t play it kind I want ’em in pieces Like they left you behind Retribution Retribution Let the living learn fear In a king’s constitution [Verse 2] He used to love mischief A grin and a show This ain’t that carnival This is something he knows This is love gone violent This is patience run dry This is a man who rebuilt her Watchin’ her still cry “Don’t ask me to wait Don’t ask me to heal first They took you to handfuls I’m takin’ ’em worse” [Pre-Chorus] No more one night free No more borrowed grace No more pretendin’ We can share their place If they hunt what’s different Then they bought this war He wants ’em in tatters On their own front porch [Chorus] I promise retribution I promise the tear They don’t get to sleep While you’re fightin’ for air I can’t take it longer I can’t play it kind I want ’em in pieces Like they left you behind Retribution Retribution Let the living learn fear In a king’s constitution [Bridge] She reaches for his wrist Newly sewn, still sore “If you become their evil Then what was I for?” He don’t answer pretty He don’t answer soft He looks at the seams Where the living ripped her off “You were for livin’ They made you a cost Now I’m for the reckonin’ Whatever it costs” [Verse 3] Graveyard stays listenin’ Stones don’t take sides The crown finds his temple The old grin don’t smile It cuts It commits It names the whole town Every hand that grabbed wheat Every saint that stood ’round “I want ’em apart I want ’em afraid I want ’em to feel you In the mess that they made” [Chorus] I promise retribution I promise the tear They don’t get to sleep While you’re fightin’ for air I can’t take it longer I can’t play it kind I want ’em in pieces Like they left you behind Retribution Retribution Let the living learn fear In a king’s constitution [Outro] She watches him rise From the little grave bed A king out of sorrow With a war in his head The nightmares still have her The crown now has him He promised the tearing At the edge of the hymn I can’t take it I can’t take it That’s the last gentle line Next sound from the graveyard Ain’t grief It’s the crime
