Salon Minuit - Paris Catacombs version

The handle fit my fingers too closely to be chance wet brass, cold from the weather turned warm beneath my grasp The rain came hard behind me the night pressed at my spine inside, the air was amber-sweet with music and with wine Somewhere beneath the thunder a warning moved through bone I knew enough to leave that place and not enough to go The chandeliers held candles that watched when I came near The woman raised an empty hand and made a drink appear Dark figures turned around us in velvet, silk, and lace to music that was older than any I could place She touched my wrist and laughed once much nearer than before said, “Nothing true is stolen here it simply finds the door” She said, stay for one more round (Encore un verre) Her eyes cut through the crowd (Jusqu’à l’enfer) I should have left right then But I just pressed further in Salon Minuit, take me down Salon Minuit, spin me round sin buffet, I want the taste you make my better self erase Salon Minuit, call my name Salon Minuit, feed the flame every hall and door I’m through opens back inside of you The Velvet Hall stood waiting with curtains soft as smoke it took the man I practiced And hung it like a cloak Behind a Red Door, someone made pleasure loud as pain I saw no face, but just enough to send me on again The Mirror Room dared me closer then closer, past my face past truth, past every artifice past the bottom of this place She said, stay for one more round (Encore un verre) Her eyes cut through the crowd (Jusqu’à l’enfer) I should have left right then But I just pressed further in Salon Minuit, take me down Salon Minuit, spin me round sin buffet, I want the taste you make my better self erase Salon Minuit, call my name Salon Minuit, feed the flame every hall and door I’m through opens back inside of you The chapel held confessions the altar wore a stain I gave the glass a little truth it answered with the same The Dream Room opened downward I stepped in and felt the fall I struck the sea beneath it but drowning felt like calm Then I woke beneath a spotlight with the whole room watching me And behind the velvet laughter came ovations for my dream She said, stay for one more round (Encore un verre) Her eyes cut through the crowd (Jusqu’à l’enfer) I should have left right then But I just pressed further in Salon Minuit, take me down Salon Minuit, spin me round sin buffet, I want the taste you make my better self erase Salon Minuit, call my name Salon Minuit, feed the flame every hall and door I’m through opens back inside of you The Beloved Room was breathless And no candle dared to stir I saw someone I would die for And it sounded just like her I almost called it mercy I almost called it home But her hand went through my shoulder And left me more alone Then I ran through seven exits each damp with evening rain But each door that opened inward Was the same red hall again The walls said “do not call me trap And do not call me cruel Each enticement you call bait Was governed by your rule” I said, “Tell me where the key is” She said, “À quoi bon chercher la clé?” The way out is the deeper room Beyond the deeper door Then every room was breathing not beside me, but within the bar, the hall, the mirror the red door breathing skin The host no longer followed The host no longer led She nodded once in understanding For the faces I had shed I felt the building listen with chandeliers that sung the music had no singer but it knew my deeper tongue I sank into the spiral I let the floor decide The man who came for pleasure was the first thing left outside Salon Minuit, fais-moi tomber Salon Minuit, fais-moi tourner Festin de péchés, je veux y goûter Efface l’homme que j’étais Salon Minuit, appelle-moi Salon Minuit, brûle en moi Chaque salle, chaque porte franchie S’ouvre encore au fond de ta nuit Je reviens toujours vers toi Je reviens toujours