Chimes to Midnight

[Intro]
The church clock coughs, the porch boards bend
October comes to count the dead again

[Verse 1]
At the edge of town where the corn lies flat
A rusted bell hangs from a dead oak branch
Every summer ends with the same cold sign
Four pale chimes before the midnight line

You said, “Don’t look when the blackbirds turn”
But I saw old names in the leaves that burned
One by one, from the family stone
They rose through the dirt and they walked back home

[Pre-Chorus]
No candle stays lit by the garden gate
No living heart can bargain with fate

[Chorus]
Chimes to midnight, ring them clear
The dead come back when October’s near
Art of shadows on the window frame
Call them once and they know your name
Chimes to midnight, thin and bright
One more summer, then the fall takes flight
Now remember, remember this:
The door stays open after the last bell kiss

[Verse 2]
Grandmother’s coat on the kitchen chair
Mud on the floor, but nobody there
The radio plays an old parade
A voice from the cellar says, “Don’t be afraid”

Your photograph has a second face
A little girl standing behind our place
She wears the dress that you wore at ten
And asks why I won’t let her in again

[Pre-Chorus]
The pumpkin rots beside the well
Something is counting beneath the spell

[Bridge]
When the leaves go brown, don’t speak of spring
When the clock strikes twelve, don’t touch the string
I buried your letter under the stairs
But every October, it reappears

[Breakdown]
Four chimes!
Cold hands!
Old graves!
No plans!
Four chimes!
Stand still!
They rise!
They will!

[Final Chorus]
Chimes to midnight, ring them clear
The dead come back when October’s near
Art of shadows, painted in flame
Every lost soul remembers your name
Chimes to midnight, thin and bright
This is the omen before the fall night
Now remember, remember this:
The dead revive once each summer for a final kiss

[Outro]
The church clock coughs, the porch boards bend
October comes to count the dead again
Four pale chimes...
Then nothing...
Then footsteps...

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[Intro] The church clock coughs, the porch boards bend October comes to count the dead again [Verse 1] At the edge of town where the corn lies flat A rusted bell hangs from a dead oak branch Every summer ends with the same cold sign Four pale chimes before the midnight line You said, “Don’t look when the blackbirds turn” But I saw old names in the leaves that burned One by one, from the family stone They rose through the dirt and they walked back home [Pre-Chorus] No candle stays lit by the garden gate No living heart can bargain with fate [Chorus] Chimes to midnight, ring them clear The dead come back when October’s near Art of shadows on the window frame Call them once and they know your name Chimes to midnight, thin and bright One more summer, then the fall takes flight Now remember, remember this: The door stays open after the last bell kiss [Verse 2] Grandmother’s coat on the kitchen chair Mud on the floor, but nobody there The radio plays an old parade A voice from the cellar says, “Don’t be afraid” Your photograph has a second face A little girl standing behind our place She wears the dress that you wore at ten And asks why I won’t let her in again [Pre-Chorus] The pumpkin rots beside the well Something is counting beneath the spell [Chorus] Chimes to midnight, ring them clear The dead come back when October’s near Art of shadows on the window frame Call them once and they know your name Chimes to midnight, thin and bright One more summer, then the fall takes flight Now remember, remember this: The door stays open after the last bell kiss [Bridge] When the leaves go brown, don’t speak of spring When the clock strikes twelve, don’t touch the string I buried your letter under the stairs But every October, it reappears [Breakdown] Four chimes! Cold hands! Old graves! No plans! Four chimes! Stand still! They rise! They will! [Final Chorus] Chimes to midnight, ring them clear The dead come back when October’s near Art of shadows, painted in flame Every lost soul remembers your name Chimes to midnight, thin and bright This is the omen before the fall night Now remember, remember this: The dead revive once each summer for a final kiss [Outro] The church clock coughs, the porch boards bend October comes to count the dead again Four pale chimes... Then nothing... Then footsteps...

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