[Intro] Ride through the silver court A red plume cutting through the dark [Verse 1] At the edge of the banquet hall Where the painted generals smile You arrive with a measured bow And a promise dressed in style Sixty banners at your back Sixty names beneath your hand You can make a beggar wear a crown You can raise a fool to command [Pre-Chorus] Every corridor turns when you speak Every locked door opens for the meek But I see the knife beneath the glove Is this ambition, or a borrowed love? [Chorus] Take my name to the highest room Promise me a seat where the bright flags bloom If I kneel, will the throne remember me? If I rise, who will I have to be? Duke of the dark, with your lance held high You sell tomorrow beneath a velvet sky Call it favor, call it destiny Your crown is a chain, and you’re handing it to me [Verse 2] In the gallery after midnight Seals are broken, candles lean One small word in a royal letter Can erase what once had been You know which heir is hungry You know which guard can be bought You turn a whisper into law Before the morning knows it was thought [Pre-Chorus] Every staircase climbs toward the flame Every smiling mouth repeats your name And the higher that the banners fly The more the faithful learn to lie [Chorus] Take my name to the highest room Promise me a seat where the bright flags bloom If I kneel, will the throne remember me? If I rise, who will I have to be? Duke of the dark, with your lance held high You sell tomorrow beneath a velvet sky Call it favor, call it destiny Your crown is a chain, and you’re handing it to me [Instrumental] [Bridge] No drums, no guards, no velvet door Just my reflection on the marble floor The gift you gave has started to shine And every jewel has a thread through mine If I leave now, the court will burn If I stay, there’s no return [Final Chorus] Take my name to the highest room Promise me a seat where the bright flags bloom I won’t kneel to a borrowed dream I’ll choose the fire behind the gleam Duke of the dark, with your lance held high Your sixty shadows circle the sky Call it favor, call it destiny But your crown is a chain—and it won’t belong to me [Outro] Ride on, duke of the midnight court The gates are wide, but I know the cost
