[INTRO — WHISPER] One last warning. The clock bites back. [VERSE 1 — THRASH SHOUT] Kick the gate, let the black bells ring! Grin too wide with a rusted grin! Boots hit hard, hear the floorboards crack, Count to zero—no turning back! [PRE-CHORUS — WHISPER] Little teeth in the dark... Hold your breath... [CHORUS — SHOUT] Run, run, crooked parade! Red-faced moon and a razor blade! Stomp, stomp, shake the ground! When the crooked ones come round! [VERSE 2 — FAST SHOUT] Tin-mask fever and a paper crown, Jack-o'-lanterns rolling through town! Clap once—cut! Let the whole room freeze! Then the boots come down like a swarm of bees! [BREAK — WHISPER] Hush now. Hear the hinges. [CHORUS — SHOUT] Run, run, crooked parade! Red-faced moon and a razor blade! Stomp, stomp, shake the ground! When the crooked ones come round! [BRIDGE — STOP-START SHOUTS] Who pulled the cord? We did! Who brought the grin? We did! What waits outside? A crooked little carnival! [FINAL TURN — BOUNCY SPOOKY SHOUT] Skip, skip, skip through the candy-red gate! Laugh too loud, but don't be late! Round we go while the brass bells pound, Tiny black boots on a sugared-up ground! [OUTRO — WHISPER] The parade went home. The grin stayed.
