[Verse 1] You came in bronze and battle smoke Sand on your boots Old wine on your coat You laughed like Rome was just a joke And said my throne looked better in gold Maps on the table Fleets in your eyes You called me “queen” like a quiet aside Cards in my sleeve Kohl in my gaze I learned your scars while the courtiers prayed [Chorus] I’m the serpent of old Nile You’re the lion out of time We play kingdoms for a smile Trade our crowns for one more night Let the empires rage and drown If you stay when the sun goes down Serpent of old Nile Holding you while Rome divides [Verse 2] Feasts on the river Silk in the wind Trumpets fade out when the dancers spin You dropped your armor into the tide Said “If I lose At least I tried” Rumors like daggers under the door Letters from Rome all smeared on the floor You slept through warnings I watched the dawn Counting how many gods we had wrong [Chorus] I’m the serpent of old Nile You’re the lion out of time We play kingdoms for a smile Trade our crowns for one more night Let the empires rage and drown If you stay when the sun goes down Serpent of old Nile Holding you while Rome divides [Bridge] When the ships burned red on the sea Did you flinch Or think of me? (oh) Every oath we bent out of shape Still you came Too late Too late [Chorus] I’m the serpent of old Nile You’re the lion out of time We play kingdoms for a smile Trade our crowns for one more night Let the empires rage and drown As we drink this poison down Serpent of old Nile We go quiet While the world decides
