No Reins Left

Intro — whispered preacher, thunder cracking like bones] Rain don’t fall here… It bleeds. Mud don’t hold me… It feeds. When that rail starts screamin’ under rotten bone… You already know who’s comin’ home. [Ghost Choir — distant, snarling] Ride… ride… ride… Low… low… low… [Verse 1 — deep preacher baritone, slow venom] I crawled up from the floodplain, boots caked in grave mud and piss Cross on my chest but the devil still kiss Hat pulled low where the lightning split my soul Horse breath stinkin’ like the hollow done took control I don’t knock on gates, I kick ‘em off the hinges Mud on the spur, storm in my vengeance Old rail screams when the dead wind moans Every hoofbeat leave the blacktop scorched to the bone They said, “Boy, don’t ride when the sky bleed red” I heard my name from the cold horse shed No crown, no throne, no silk-tongue liar Just a low-end pulse and a soul gone wildfire [Pre-Chorus — building stomp, chains rattling] Chain don’t hold Fear don’t steer Storm got close So I ate that motherfucker here [Chorus — big ghost choir, vicious] I’m the Hollow King Rider No reins left, just blood on my hands 808 under the thunder Hooves draggin’ straight through hell’s lands I’m the Hollow King Rider Black coat ripped through the pourin’ rain If the whole sky crack open and bleed I ride through the fire, laughin’ in pain [Verse 2 — harder bounce, straight menace] Who gon’ stop me? Wind? Bitch, please Graveyard fence? I been pissin’ on them for years Devil at the crossroads with a silver-bit grin I looked that hoe dead in the eye and said, “Get the fuck back, kin.” I don’t sell my soul, I piss on the contract Burn the note and stomp the ashes back Every fake-ass king with a paper crown and name Get swallowed when the hollow bring the flood and the flame Horse don’t flinch, horse don’t lie Horse smell death when the pressure get high Loose rein, iron seat, teeth clenched tight Let that black storm climb my spine and bite I ain’t chasin’ they spotlights I ain’t beggin’ they fake praise I was forged in barn rot, unpaid sweat, and long nights And I still ain’t broke yet [Ghost Choir — call response, aggressive] Who rides low? The Rider. Who brings the storm? The Rider. Who won’t bow? The Rider. Who drags hell home? The Rider. [Chorus — bigger, stomping, meaner] I’m the Hollow King Rider No reins left, just blood on my hands 808 under the thunder Hooves draggin’ straight through hell’s lands I’m the Hollow King Rider Black coat ripped through the pourin’ rain If the whole sky crack open and bleed I ride through the fire, laughin’ in pain [Bridge — stripped, intimate, colder preacher] There’s a place past fear Where the field rot still Where the dead stay quiet But the horses scream what they will There’s a road past grief Where the low end growl And every broken stablehand Either dies… or howls [Final Verse — half-spoken, heavy 808 drag, vicious] So bury my doubt by the old fence line Leave my shame where the creek beds choke on swine Tell ‘em I rode when the storm got meaner Tell ‘em I laughed when the black clouds screamed “Redeemer” No bit in the mouth, no chain on the gate No man-made crown, no borrowed fate Just mud on the boots, thunder in the tire Hollow in my chest… but my spirit climb higher [Final Chorus — full ghost choir, arena-sized, apocalyptic] I’m the Hollow King Rider No reins left, just blood on my hands 808 under the thunder Hooves draggin’ straight through hell’s lands I’m the Hollow King Rider Black coat ripped through the pourin’ rain If the whole sky crack open and bleed I ride through the fire, laughin’ in pain [Outro — preacher fading into howling storm] I don’t chase the throne. I burn it down where the low end goes. I’m the Hollow King Rider… And I ain’t never comin’ back alone