[Intro - Low Circus Drums, Haunted Piano] [Whip Crack] [Low Growl] [Spoken] He walked into the ring holding a whip. That was adorable. [Verse 1] The man raised his whip Smiling through the dust Never saw the shadow Moving underneath the brush He came here for obedience Came to make me kneel Like leather in his hand Could somehow make his courage real The crowd leaned forward The drumline held its breath He took another step And learned how quiet fear can get [Pre-Chorus] SWING THAT WHIP SHOW YOUR STEEL MAKE BELIEVE YOU'RE IN CONTROL BUT THIS RING KNOWS WHO I AM AND I'M THE ONE YOU CAME TO HOLD [Chorus] MY ROAR IS LAW! ROAR IS LAW! YOU WALKED INTO MY CIRCLE THINKING I WOULD FUCKING CRAWL! MY ROAR IS LAW! ROAR IS LAW! IF SOMEBODY'S GETTING TAMED— IT WON'T BE ME AT ALL! RAISE YOUR WHIP! MAKE YOUR CALL! WATCH THAT COURAGE START TO FALL! YOU CAME HERE TO COMMAND THE BEAST— NOW HEAR MY ROAR IS LAW! [Verse 2] Dust across my mane Old scars beneath my hide Every mark a little lesson in the art of staying alive He talked loud outside the cage Much quieter inside Funny what happens when bravado has nowhere left to hide One crack of leather One flash of teeth The audience stopped breathing And suddenly So did he [Pre-Chorus] SWING THAT WHIP SHOW YOUR STEEL TELL YOURSELF YOU'RE STILL IN CHARGE BUT EVERY STEP YOU TAKE IN HERE JUST MAKES THIS RING FEEL TWICE AS LARGE [Chorus] MY ROAR IS LAW! ROAR IS LAW! YOU WALKED INTO MY CIRCLE THINKING I WOULD FUCKING CRAWL! MY ROAR IS LAW! ROAR IS LAW! IF SOMEBODY'S GETTING TAMED— IT WON'T BE ME AT ALL! RAISE YOUR WHIP! MAKE YOUR CALL! WATCH THAT COURAGE START TO FALL! YOU CAME HERE TO COMMAND THE BEAST— NOW HEAR MY ROAR IS LAW! [Bridge - Broken Circus Waltz] [Spoken] Tell me, trainer... When exactly did you think the cage belonged to you? Because you had the key? Because they gave you a chair and a whip? [Low Growl] You mistook equipment for authority. Common mistake. [Drums Build] Now... back up. Slowly. [Breakdown] WHO! TAMES! WHO?! YOU BROUGHT A WHIP— I BROUGHT TEETH FOR YOU! STEP! IN! CLOSE! NOW EVERYBODY GETS TO WATCH YOU KNOW! NO! CROWN! NO! THRONE! I DON'T NEED EITHER TO DEFEND MY HOME! OPEN! YOUR! EARS! WHEN THE LION SPEAKS— THE WHOLE DAMN RING HEARS! [Massive Drop] ROAR! IS! LAW! [Final Chorus] MY ROAR IS LAW! ROAR IS LAW! YOU WALKED INTO MY CIRCLE THINKING I WOULD FUCKING CRAWL! MY ROAR IS LAW! ROAR IS LAW! NOW THE TRAINER'S AT THE ROPES AND THE LION STANDS TALL! DROP THE WHIP! HEAR THE CALL! WATCH YOUR LITTLE KINGDOM FALL! YOU CAME HERE TO COMMAND THE BEAST— NOW LEARN MY ROAR IS LAW! ROAR IS LAW! MY ROAR IS FUCKING LAW! [Outro - Circus Drums Stop] [Whip Drops] [Spoken] Good boy. [Low Growl] Now stay.
