Cemetery Lights (Murder Ballad Noir)

murder ballad, country noir, southern gothic

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V4.5+

Lyrics:
[Intro – Soft upright bass pluck, brushes on snare, and a single twangy clean guitar note that hangs in the air. Low, room reverb. Whispered backing vocal hums faintly.]

Verse 1
I been sittin’ here nursin’ this rye,
Watchin’ the rain drip off the neon sign.
The sheriff don’t come ‘round here no more,
Not since I walked out that church house door.

Verse 2
There’s a hole on the hill by the willow tree,
And I dug it deep where no one can see.
A stone with no name, just the date and the night,
That I laid her down under cemetery lights.

Chorus
Cemetery lights, glowin’ cold and white,
They don’t tell the truth, but they don’t tell lies.
Every shadow’s a witness, every crow takes flight,
When I walk alone ‘neath those cemetery lights.

[Instrumental Break – Clean guitar arpeggios over soft upright bass. Whispered hum continues in the background.]

Verse 3
She told me her heart was mine to keep,
But her words ran thin and her vows ran cheap.
I caught her in town with his hands on her hips,
And the fire came fast from my fingertips.

Verse 4
I ain’t proud of the things I done,
But a man gets pushed, he can’t outrun.
Now her voice still haunts me in the dead of night,
Calling my name under cemetery lights.

[Bridge – Bass and drums drop out. Just clean guitar and a faint whisper repeating “lights… lights…”]
There’s a preacher prayin’ for my soul,
But the good Lord don’t hear dead men no more.
If the rope don’t take me, the bottle just might,
And I’ll lay me down under cemetery lights.

[Final Chorus – Slight swell in guitar and bass, whispered backing harmony joins.]
Cemetery lights, glowin’ cold and white,
They don’t tell the truth, but they don’t tell lies.
Every shadow’s a witness, every crow takes flight,
When I walk alone ‘neath those cemetery lights.

[Outro – Slow fade on bass and guitar, whispered “lights…” trailing into silence.]

2075/7500

Lyrics: [Intro – Soft upright bass pluck, brushes on snare, and a single twangy clean guitar note that hangs in the air. Low, room reverb. Whispered backing vocal hums faintly.] Verse 1 I been sittin’ here nursin’ this rye, Watchin’ the rain drip off the neon sign. The sheriff don’t come ‘round here no more, Not since I walked out that church house door. Verse 2 There’s a hole on the hill by the willow tree, And I dug it deep where no one can see. A stone with no name, just the date and the night, That I laid her down under cemetery lights. Chorus Cemetery lights, glowin’ cold and white, They don’t tell the truth, but they don’t tell lies. Every shadow’s a witness, every crow takes flight, When I walk alone ‘neath those cemetery lights. [Instrumental Break – Clean guitar arpeggios over soft upright bass. Whispered hum continues in the background.] Verse 3 She told me her heart was mine to keep, But her words ran thin and her vows ran cheap. I caught her in town with his hands on her hips, And the fire came fast from my fingertips. Verse 4 I ain’t proud of the things I done, But a man gets pushed, he can’t outrun. Now her voice still haunts me in the dead of night, Calling my name under cemetery lights. Chorus Cemetery lights, glowin’ cold and white, They don’t tell the truth, but they don’t tell lies. Every shadow’s a witness, every crow takes flight, When I walk alone ‘neath those cemetery lights. [Bridge – Bass and drums drop out. Just clean guitar and a faint whisper repeating “lights… lights…”] There’s a preacher prayin’ for my soul, But the good Lord don’t hear dead men no more. If the rope don’t take me, the bottle just might, And I’ll lay me down under cemetery lights. [Final Chorus – Slight swell in guitar and bass, whispered backing harmony joins.] Cemetery lights, glowin’ cold and white, They don’t tell the truth, but they don’t tell lies. Every shadow’s a witness, every crow takes flight, When I walk alone ‘neath those cemetery lights. [Outro – Slow fade on bass and guitar, whispered “lights…” trailing into silence.]

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