[Intro] (Melancholic accordion fades into a driving, 6/8 acoustic guitar strum. A low, mournful cello drone.) [Verse 1] Upon the parapet I pace, a ghost in silk and bone The maritime wind, it knows no grace, and chilled my marrow stone My King is but a portrait now, in the gallery’s dim light With a crown of lead upon my brow, I watch the coming night The courtiers are like starlings, dear, they chatter in the hall But none of them can mask the fear that rises like the wall [Chorus] Oh, the waves they are a-pounding at the base of Skerry’s Rock And the heavy hand of history is the only key and lock I am the mast, I am the sail, I am the wreckage on the shore And I shall wear this velvet veil until I breathe no more [Verse 2] The ledger books are stained with tea and blood of distant wars While merchantmen upon the sea are counting up their scores I signed the seals with trembling hand to send the boys away To some godforsaken, sun-bleached land where widow-makers play My son, the Prince, he drinks his wine and weeps for what is lost While I am drawing out the line to calculate the cost [Chorus] Oh, the waves they are a-pounding at the base of Skerry’s Rock And the heavy hand of history is the only key and lock I am the mast, I am the sail, I am the wreckage on the shore And I shall wear this velvet veil until I breathe no more [Bridge] (Tempo increases. Frantic mandolin rhythm.) Bring the tallow! Bring the wick! The fog is rolling in so thick! The bastions groan, the ramparts shake The promises we had to break! (Music drops to a whisper) I’d trade this scepter for a spade And all the choices I have made [Guitar Solo] (Bright, folk-rock acoustic guitar with heavy floor tom percussion) [Verse 3] So let the ballad-mongers sing of how I held the line And how I wore the heavy ring and drank the bitter wine The ink is dry, the candle dies, the winter’s breath is cold And truth is just a pack of lies that’s gathered up in gold I’ll lay my head on linen sheets and dream of being free Before the morning drumbeat beats for the Queen of Misery [Outro] (Accordion returns, slowing tempo) For the Queen of Misery... For the Queen of Misery... (Final chord rings out into the sound of crashing waves) [End]
