[Intro] [Whispered] Needle through the linen, Moonlight through the glass, Names beneath the candle, Every shadow has a past. [Verse 1] Her workshop breathed in silence underneath the crooked beams, With ravens on the rafters and dead foxes lost in dreams, Jars of roots and silver dust stood sleeping on the shelf, A thousand little wicked things she'd rather keep herself. Black thread curled between her hands, a needle kissed the skin, A name was sewn inside a doll where punishment begins, Some came carrying silver, some came begging at her door, And some she cursed for nothing— Just because they were a bore. [Pre-Chorus] Oh, they called her wicked, Oh, they crossed the street, But the Witch would only smile At every frightened heartbeat. [Chorus] Eleonora, candle in the black, Soft hands on the cradle, pins behind her back, Whispering a curse while humming something sweet, Rocking little Marionette to sleep. Eleonora, poison and perfume, Wildflowers on the table, shadows in the room, She could break a stranger with a word beneath her breath, Then kiss her little daughter And sing her dreams to rest. [Instrumental] [Verse 2] She was young when first she saw him standing by the door, A quiet man with stranger eyes she'd never seen before, No fear beneath his measured smile, no trembling in his hand, The only soul who looked at her And seemed to understand. He spoke like every word he chose was hanging from a thread, She laughed and told the Puppeteer, "You're stranger than the dead." He answered, "So they tell me," And she offered him some wine, Two monsters in the stories, Two young lovers at the time. [Pre-Chorus] No priest would bless their promise, No saint would guard their bed, So they made their vows in candlelight With midnight overhead. [Chorus] Eleonora, candle in the black, Soft hands on the cradle, pins behind her back, Whispering a curse while humming something sweet, Rocking little Marionette to sleep. Eleonora, poison and perfume, Wildflowers on the table, shadows in the room, She could break a stranger with a word beneath her breath, Then kiss her little daughter And sing her dreams to rest. [Bridge] [Soft, almost like a lullaby] Hush now, little Marionette, The moon is watching still, Mother has a little work For someone over the hill. One hand stirs the cauldron, One hand holds you near, One voice whispers ancient words, The other says, "Don't fear." [Instrumental] [Verse 3] There were nights when Foster found her laughing to herself, With thirty stitched-up effigies arranged upon the shelf, "Business?" he would quietly ask. She'd answer, "Mostly so." Then glance toward one unfortunate doll— "...That one annoyed me, though." But morning made another girl from what the darkness knew, Hair undone and tired eyes beneath the early blue, No Witch, no whispered curses, no legend dressed in dread, Just Eleonora half-asleep Beside her daughter's bed. She'd mend the tiny blankets, She'd brush the tangled hair, And anyone who saw her then Would swear the tales unfair. Until some fool came knocking With another name to curse— Then Mama kissed her child goodbye And calmly reached her purse. [Chorus] Eleonora, candle in the black, Soft hands on the cradle, pins behind her back, Whispering a curse while humming something sweet, Rocking little Marionette to sleep. Eleonora, poison and perfume, Wildflowers on the table, shadows in the room, She could make the bravest man regret the road he'd crossed, But for Foster and her daughter There was nothing she wouldn't lost. [Breakdown] [Whispered voices] The Witch. The Mother. The Lover. The Name. Three faces in the candlelight, And every one the same. [Final Verse] So tell the frightened villagers whatever helps them sleep, That witches have no hearts to break and nothing they would keep, That monsters never fall in love, That darkness cannot care— Then enter Eleonora's home If ever you should dare. You'll find the Puppeteer beside her, Marionette asleep, A needle resting on the table, A promise hers to keep. And somewhere in the candle smoke, Behind that gentle grin, A woman loving everything The world thought lived in sin. [Final Chorus] Eleonora, candle in the black, Family at her heartbeat, darkness at her back, Let the whole world fear the Witch And every spell she speaks— Little Marionette knows The woman underneath. Eleonora, beautiful and strange, Tender as a lullaby, cruel enough to change, A curse upon her fingertips, A kiss upon your head— "Sleep, my little Marionette. Mama's not done yet." [Outro] [Music box] Needle through the linen, Moonlight through the glass, Sleep now, little Marionette... Mama has a guest. But morning made another girl from what the darkness knew, Hair undone and tired eyes beneath the early blue, No Witch, no whispered curses, no legend dressed in dread, Just Eleonora half-asleep Beside her daughter's bed. She'd mend the tiny blankets, She'd brush the tangled hair, And anyone who saw her then Would swear the tales unfair. Until some fool came knocking With another name to curse— Then Mama kissed her child goodbye And calmly reached her purse. [Chorus] Eleonora, candle in the black, Soft hands on the cradle, pins behind her back, Whispering a curse while humming something sweet, Rocking little Marionette to sleep. Eleonora, poison and perfume, Wildflowers on the table, shadows in the room, She could make the bravest man regret the road he'd crossed, But for Foster and her daughter There was nothing she wouldn't lost. [Breakdown] [Whispered voices] The Witch. The Mother. The Lover. The Name. Three faces in the candlelight, And every one the same. [Final Verse] So tell the frightened villagers whatever helps them sleep, That witches have no hearts to break and nothing they would keep, That monsters never fall in love, That darkness cannot care— Then enter Eleonora's home If ever you should dare. You'll find the Puppeteer beside her, Marionette asleep, A needle resting on the table, A promise hers to keep. And somewhere in the candle smoke, Behind that gentle grin, A woman loving everything The world thought lived in sin. [Final Chorus] Eleonora, candle in the black, Family at her heartbeat, darkness at her back, Let the whole world fear the Witch And every spell she speaks— Little Marionette knows The woman underneath. Eleonora, beautiful and strange, Tender as a lullaby, cruel enough to change, A curse upon her fingertips, A kiss upon your head— "Sleep, my little Marionette. Mama's not done yet." [Outro] [Music box] Needle through the linen, Moonlight through the glass, Sleep now, little Marionette... Mama has a guest.
