King of the Devils – Project: 59', pt I

My brother grinned at the starting lights Bet his whole world on one last ride One bad race left a mountain of debt One bad break made a blood-red bet... Found him cold by the loading bay Blood in his teeth where the streetlights lay Lost that race, couldn't clear his pay They beat his last fucking breath away Whole street knew, but they bit their tongue Blue lights came when the work was done Case went cold in a paper trail Revenge don't come through registered mail I knew their plates, knew every name Knew who held him, who fed the flame Could've bought a gun, ended the game But quick death couldn't balance the claim Strip their kingdom down to wire Watch their bankroll catch like fire Let 'em choke on the bets they made Then collect what their blood debt paid Take their money, fracture pride Cut that crown from the inside Let 'em watch their kingdom bleed Then I take what vengeance needs I’m the King of the Devils, baby Blood in the bank, I'm taking it back Put your whole damn empire on the track One race, one road, one Cadillac Crown me in smoke, bury your name Bet against me, feed the flame You took blood — now pay the claim The King of the Devils Know the fucking name Rain hit tin in the dead of night '59 slept under workbench light Half-built dream with the chrome gone white His wrench still hung where he left that night Black coat clean in the pouring rain Soft little smile like he owned my pain Laid one key on the window frame Said, “Want those bastards to lose their game?” “This car won't lose — you have my word Not to the fastest thing you've heard When your final road goes black You drive the fucking damned ones back” When I die, I harvest the damned Drag guilty souls with a dead man's hand Death felt distant, revenge felt near So, I took that key without any fear Take their money, fracture pride Every win twists the knife inside If Hell collects when my pulse is gone Fuck it — till then, I drive on Turn key once — hear the deadbolt crack Turn key twice — feel the firewall snap Black smoke coils from the engine stack Hell puts teeth in the Cadillac First fool laughed at the funeral chrome Said that old hearse should've stayed at home Green light hit — I was gone on sight Took his cash by the end of night Next came pink slips, titles, keys Every win dropped 'em to their knees Turbo prayers couldn't save their speed That old Caddy ate horsepower greed Then one last message split the night Their fastest driver wants one last fight The one who held my brother down Winner takes every piece of this fucking town Three... Two... One... Burn! Now my name runs mouth to mouth Their money runs thin, their nerve runs out I came for blood, found a fucking crown Funny how grief loves power now Tell myself this is still for him Then grin when another engine dims Revenge got sweet like poisoned wine Every finish line tasted mine Their last driver wears that killer's grin One of the hands that was holding him They stake the cars and the betting crown My Cadillac if he takes me down I grip the wheel, hear my heartbeat pound V8 thunder shakes the ground Brother's ghost gets lost in the sound I smile — “Watch me burn it down” I’m the King of the Devils, baby Blood in the bank, I'm taking it back Put your whole damn empire on track One race, one road, one Cadillac Crown of smoke, I buried your name Bet against me and feed the flame You took blood — now pay the claim I'm the King of the Devils Know my fucking name Green light waits like a loaded gun One last race and the war is won Pulse and pistons beat as one I tell myself, “This ends when I'm done” Mirror catches his patient smile Black coat sitting there all the while I say, “They can't beat me this time” He says, “I know — the road is mine”