The Raven [Duet Ballade]

[Instrumental Intro] Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore - While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. [Bridge] "'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door - Only this and nothing more. [Instrumental Break] [Interlude] Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore; Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door - [Bridge] Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door - Perched, and sat, and nothing more. [Instrumental Break] [Interlude] Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, "Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven, Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore - [Bridge] Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." [Instrumental Break] [Interlude] [Pre-Outro] And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, [Break] And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted - nevermore! [Instrumental Outro] [Fade out] [End]