[Intro: distant choir, low distorted drone, slow ceremonial drums] I have watched them build their kingdoms On the backs of mortal prayers Watched them carve their names in marble Like the stone itself would care Every throne looked permanent Until it wasn't [Verse 1: low clean vocal, deliberate rhythm] Kaelor once stood over nations With a red crown in his hand Swore no blade would ever reach him Swore no god could take his land Solvar burned above the temples Like creation wore his face Priests said light would last forever Then the stars forgot his name I watched banners turn to ashes Watched their holy cities fall Every empire called itself eternal None of them were [Pre-Chorus: building tension] Power makes a liar Out of anyone who stays Long enough upon a throne To think the throne obeys [Chorus: huge melodic metalcore] NO GOD RULES FOREVER No crown survives the sky You can carve your name in heaven Still watch heaven pass you by Build your temples to the clouds Make the whole damn world bow down Time will put its hands around you AND DRAG YOUR KINGDOM TO THE GROUND No god rules forever Neither will I [Verse 2: heavier guitars] I have seen succession dressed as mercy Usurpation dressed as fate Seen a son inherit sunlight Then become the thing he hates I've watched brothers poison brothers Watched disciples take the throne Watched a god survive the battle Just to die from growing old They always think they're different That history bends for them Funny Every tyrant says that Right before the end [Pre-Chorus 2] A throne is only timber Until someone bleeds for it A crown is only metal Until somebody dies beneath it [Chorus] NO GOD RULES FOREVER No crown survives the sky You can carve your name in heaven Still watch heaven pass you by Build your temples to the clouds Make the whole damn world bow down Time will put its hands around you AND DRAG YOUR KINGDOM TO THE GROUND No god rules forever Neither will I [Bridge: instrumentation falls away, sparse piano and low guitar] I used to think survival Was proof that I was right That if I remained standing Then I had earned the light But I've lived long enough to learn Endurance isn't innocence And surviving everyone Doesn't mean you deserved to [Soft choir enters] Maybe that's what separates me From the kings beneath the dust I don't think the sun belongs to me I only carry it For now [Breakdown: massive half-time drop] [Harsh vocal] THE THRONE DOESN'T LOVE YOU THE CROWN DOESN'T CARE THE PRAYERS WILL FIND ANOTHER NAME WHEN YOURS ISN'T THERE [Gang vocals] EMPIRES DIE [Harsh vocal] GODS DO TOO [Gang vocals] EMPIRES DIE [Harsh vocal] AND SO WILL YOU I HAVE SEEN THE MIGHTIEST FALL AND THE GRAVE DIDN'T BOW AT ALL [Instrumental: violent drums, dissonant lead guitar] [Verse 3: low clean vocal over heavy ambience] Some were killed Some disappeared Some faded when the prayers ran dry Some became the monsters They once promised they would fight Some gave up their kingdoms Some had kingdoms taken And some still sit upon their thrones Too proud to notice They're already forgotten [Final Chorus: enormous choir and layered vocals] NO GOD RULES FOREVER No crown survives the sky Every golden age has twilight Every heaven learns to die Raise your monuments to power Write eternity in stone Time will turn your sacred empire Into somewhere weeds have grown NO GOD RULES FOREVER Not Solvar Not Kaelor Not the forgotten kings below Not the ones who came before us Not the ones who'll come when we go [Music drops to drums and voice] And not me [Final hit] ESPECIALLY NOT ME [Outro: wind through ruined stone, distant bell] [Low clean vocal] One day Someone will stand where I stood Look upon whatever remains of me And call it ancient Let them If they're still standing Then it was their turn.
