[Intro] [Upbeat fingerpicked acoustic guitar and singing fiddle launch a brisk 102 BPM groove with crisp Telecaster twang and tight punchy drums] [Verse 1] March sixteenth in the Royal Hall Velvet dominoes against the wall Silken masks upon the noble face Hiding treason in a gilded place Anckarström is moving through the crowd Music playing decadent and loud Two brass pistols loaded to the brim Rusty nails and bent iron in the trim Surrounding Gustav in a silent ring A fatal whisper to the tyrant king Flint sparks once in the candle glare Smoke erupting through the opera box Echoing across the city locks [Pre-Chorus] Powder burns into the velvet coat! Screaming choking in the royal throat! Lock the doors and let nobody out! Panic rising in a frantic shout! [Chorus] Anckarström's mask! The opera shot! Executing the conspirators' plot! Gunpowder, lead and rusty tacks! Swinging down the executioner's axe! The king is hit upon the stage! Closing down the golden age! [Verse 2] Fleeing out into the muddy sleet Leaving dropped flintlocks in the street Gunsmith identifies the twisted steel Dragging suspects on the torture wheel Chained in iron at the Riddarholm Waiting for the brutal scaffold storm Three days lashed upon the public square Severed hand and head into the air Monarchy in terror, cold decree Crushing out the radical plea [Bridge] The music stopped The blood is wet March seventeen-ninety-two The bullet struck the spine Fire in the opera! [Chorus] Anckarström's mask! The opera shot! Executing the conspirators' plot! Gunpowder, lead and rusty tacks! Swinging down the executioner's axe! The king is hit upon the stage! Closing down the golden age! [Outro] Sextonde mars. [Fiery Telecaster lead and singing fiddle trade riffs over a tight rhythm, ending on a crisp country stop]
