[INTRO — Distant slide guitar, low industrial drone, slow footsteps on gravel] [Nyx — soft, amused whisper] Well, look what wandered down my road... You lost, sweetheart? Or did somebody tell you... I could make your dreams come true? [Soft laugh] Mmm... They weren't lying. [Heavy distorted guitar enters] [VERSE 1 — Sultry, low-register vocals] Midnight standing where the blacktop ends Another poor fool looking for a friend Got a cheap guitar and a desperate prayer Says he'll give me anything if I take him there I tilt my head, let him tell his tale Another little dream that was born to fail He says, "Make me famous, make 'em know my name" I say, "Baby, everybody wants the same damn thing" [Nyx — whispered] But can you afford it? [PRE-CHORUS — Rising tension, breathy delivery] One little promise One little kiss One little signature And you get your wish You can have the world You can have it all But when I come knocking... YOU'D BETTER ANSWER MY CALL! [CHORUS — Explosive female metal vocals, crushing guitars] I'M THE COLLECTOR! I'M THE PRICE YOU PAY! I'M THE WOMAN AT THE CROSSROADS WHEN YOUR LUCK RUNS OUT SOMEDAY! You can run, you can pray You can beg me to forget But I always keep my promises... AND I ALWAYS COLLECT MY DEBTS! [VERSE 2 — Playful, rhythmic, seductive] Twenty years and a million fans Golden records in his trembling hands Got a pretty wife and a mansion view But there's one little thing that he always knew Every birthday, every candle blown Every quiet night when he's all alone He remembers that smile and the dress I wore And the little black book that he signed before [Nyx — teasing whisper] Aww... You remembered me. How sweet. [PRE-CHORUS — Dark harmonies building] One little promise One little kiss One little signature And you got your wish Now you've had your world Now you've had it all And guess who's waiting... WHEN THE FINAL CURTAIN FALLS! [CHORUS — Full industrial-metal intensity] I'M THE COLLECTOR! I'M THE PRICE YOU PAY! I'M THE WOMAN AT THE CROSSROADS WHEN YOUR LUCK RUNS OUT SOMEDAY! You can run, you can pray You can beg me to forget But I always keep my promises... AND I ALWAYS COLLECT MY DEBTS! [BRIDGE — Music drops to distant heartbeat and slide guitar] [Nyx — intimate spoken voice] Oh, don't look at me like that. You got everything you wanted. The money... The women... The applause... [Pause] And I got exactly what I wanted, too. [Soft chuckle] You really should've read the contract. [BREAKDOWN — Crushing half-time industrial guitars] [Nyx — guttural female scream] YOUR NAME! [Heavy guitar hit] YOUR BLOOD! [Heavy guitar hit] YOUR PROMISE! [Two-beat silence] YOUR SOUL! [Massive breakdown] I DON'T TAKE RETURNS! I DON'T MAKE EXCEPTIONS! YOU SIGNED THE FUCKING PAPER! NOW PAY FOR YOUR AMBITION! [FINAL CHORUS — Layered screams, melodic female belts] I'M THE COLLECTOR! I'M THE PRICE YOU PAY! I'M THE WOMAN AT THE CROSSROADS WHEN YOUR LUCK RUNS OUT SOMEDAY! You can run, you can pray You can beg me to forget But I always keep my promises... AND I ALWAYS COLLECT MY DEBTS! [OUTRO — Instruments fade, slide guitar returns] [Nyx — soft, satisfied whisper] There now... That wasn't so bad, was it? [Pause] Oh, sweetheart... Don't cry. [Quiet laugh] You should see the next guy's contract. [Footsteps fade down gravel road] [END]
