Come closer. Let me hear whether your pulse loses rhythm before your courage does. Come close enough to put your steel against me, And show me what your promises can bear. I have no use for careful hands or half-blows; If you want the place beside me, earn it there. Split my lip and make me shift beneath you. Find the rhythm hidden in my stance. Put your whole weight behind every answer, And prove that you can follow when I dance. Steel rings louder as the pulse kicks harder. Blood against my teeth becomes a spark. Bring me neither mercy nor hesitation. Show me how you mean to beat my heart. BEAT MY HEART! BEAT ME HARD! MATCH MY BLOW AND BREAK MY GUARD! BEAT MY HEART! MAKE IT ROAR! WHEN I RISE— BE THERE ONCE MORE! AGAIN! AGAIN! BE THERE ONCE MORE! Beat. My. Heart. You put me on the ground; I rise up laughing, Spitting blood and asking you for more. When I say, “Again,” you lift your weapon With the same bright hunger as before. Do not mistake the fall for my surrender. No defeat gives anyone a claim. One hard victory may earn my notice. Returning proves you understand the game. Blood runs hotter as the pulse beats faster. Many strike, but few return again. Anyone can meet me in the violence. Show me whether you remain when it ends. Bring no retreat and no false-hearted promise. Give me something worthy from the start. Meet my strength with everything inside you. Show me how you mean to beat my heart. BEAT MY HEART! BEAT ME HARD! MATCH MY BLOW AND BREAK MY GUARD! BEAT MY HEART! MAKE IT ROAR! WHEN I RISE— BE THERE ONCE MORE! AGAIN! AGAIN! BE THERE ONCE MORE! When the drums have stopped and iron has cooled, When the axe hangs heavy from my hand, Do not offer pity, prayer, or rescue. Be the stubborn bastard who still stands. I will never beg you not to leave me. I will never kneel to make you stay. But if you mean the challenge that you gave me, Meet my eyes when battle falls away. PUT ME DOWN! WATCH ME RISE! BLOOD ON MY TEETH! FIRE IN MY EYES! NO MASTER! NO KNEES! STAND AT MY SHOULDER— OR BLEED AT MY FEET! AGAIN! AGAIN! AGAIN! BEAT MY HEART! BEAT ME HARD! MATCH MY BLOW AND BREAK MY GUARD! BEAT MY HEART! MAKE IT ROAR! WHEN I RISE— BE THERE ONCE MORE! BEAT MY HEART! BEAT IT RAW! GIVE ME EVERYTHING YOU ARE! BEAT MY HEART! MATCH MY ROAR! WHEN THE DRUMS DIE— BE THERE ONCE MORE! AGAIN! AGAIN! BE THERE ONCE MORE! Beat. My. Heart. Beat. With. Mine. Still here? Good. Again.
