(Intro) [Instrumental: Heavy church bell tolls three times. Low strings swell. Guitars and drums crash in with a slow, pounding rhythm.] (Verse 1) [Vocal: Deep, storytelling] I turn the yellowed pages, dust upon my hands, Old stories of empires built on poisoned sands. I read of flags and slogans, marching in the streets, Of neighbors turned to targets, broken under boots. The uniforms have changed, the banners look brand new, But underneath the fabric, the same old hate shines through. The speeches rhyme with ghosts of long-forgotten kings, The same old chain, the same old iron rings. (Pre-Chorus) [Vocal: Rising, more urgent] The methods grow subtler, digital and clean, But the aim is the same as it has always been. Invent a foe, unite the crowd in fear, Until every dissenting thought must disappear. (Chorus) [Vocal: Powerful, choir joins] Can’t you hear the echoes of an old war call your name? History repeats in just a slightly altered frame. We said “Never again,” carved it deep in stone, Yet march in circles, to a drum we do not own. The echoes of an old war thunder through the past, And we are walking toward the storm, again, too fast. (Verse 2) [Vocal: Deep, steady] Back then they burned the books, today they wipe the feeds, Different kind of fire, but the same dark needs. Back then they marked the bodies, now they scan the code, Control is still the idol at the end of every road. We swear we are enlightened, better than before, But watch as every “heretic” is pushed outside the door. You call it “keeping order,” “safety,” “greater good,” I’ve seen this script already, written in our blood. (Pre-Chorus) [Vocal: Urgent] Fear is still the key, and comfort is the price, We trade away our souls for just a taste of nice. Invent a foe, unite the crowd in fear, Till every ancient warning disappears. (Chorus) [Vocal: Powerful, choir fuller] Can’t you hear the echoes of an old war call your name? History repeats in just a slightly altered frame. We said “Never again,” carved it deep in stone, Yet march in circles, to a drum we do not own. The echoes of an old war thunder through the past, And we are walking toward the storm, again, too fast. (Bridge) [Instrumental: Guitars drop, only strings and a marching snare. Whispered voices: “Order”, “Security”, “Emergency”.] [Vocal: Spoken, intense] Rome burned. Babylon fell. Every tower, every throne meets the same old hell. The costumes change, the actors wear new masks… But the script – the script never asks. (Guitar Solo) [Instrumental: Melodic, sorrowful solo over full band and strings, building to a peak.] (Chorus – Final) [Vocal: Maximum intensity, strong choir] Can’t you hear the echoes of an old war call your name? History repeats in just a slightly altered frame. We said “Never again,” carved it deep in stone, Yet march in circles, to a drum we do not own. The echoes of an old war, ringing in our ears, But we drown them in distraction, comfort, fear. (Outro) [Instrumental: Bell tolls again, once. Strings fade into a low hum.] [Vocal: Deep, spoken] And so it starts… again.
