The Banquet Stares Back

horror-soul, dark theatrical R&B, tense soul rap

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[Intro]
Set the table.
Hide the blade.
Every chair knows
what the dark was paid.

[Verse 1]
Gold cups sweating under candle heat,
red meat shining on a silver tray.
Everybody laughs with their teeth too careful,
every servant learns to look away.
I wear the crown like a borrowed fever,
sit up straight while the room leans in.
My wife keeps smiling at the nobles,
but her hand goes cold on my skin.

There’s one chair empty with a name still breathing.
There’s one toast stuck in the throat.
There’s one man missing from the music,
and the floor remembers his coat.
I say, “Be welcome.”
I say, “Eat plenty.”
I say, “Good friends, let the night be sweet.”
Then blood walks in without a body
and takes the chair across from me.

[Chorus]
The banquet stares back.
The wine turns black.
I can crown my head,
but I can’t crown that.
All my guests go still.
All my bones lose track.
I fed the room a ghost,
and the banquet stares back.

[Verse 2]
Nobody else sees what the dark brought with it,
only my mouth goes loose and wild.
The dead man sits with his hair rain-heavy,
eyes like dirt on a murdered child.
I point.
They whisper.
My wife says, “Nothing.”
Her nails dig moons in my sleeve.
But how do you host a feast for power
when the proof pulls up a seat?

I try to laugh like the throne still trusts me.
I try to drink till the rim turns clean.
But the cup keeps showing a second face there,
not mine, not his, but something between.
What’s done is done, till it wants conversation.
What’s buried stays down, till it don’t.
I killed a man to sleep more safely,
now sleep won’t enter my home.

[Bridge]
Don’t look at me.
Look at the chair.
Look how the empty
keeps sitting there.
Look at the napkin.
Look at the knife.
Look how a dinner
learns afterlife.

I paid for silence.
It spoke anyway.
I buried the question.
It found a plate.
No priest.
No bell.
No thunderclap.
Just one dead friend
and the banquet staring back.

[Final Chorus]
The banquet stares back.
The wine turns black.
I can crown my head,
but I can’t crown that.
All my guests go still.
All my bones lose track.
I fed the room a ghost,
now the banquet stares back.

[Outro]
Clear the table.
Leave the chair.
Power came hungry
and found me there.

[End]

2423/7500

[Intro] Set the table. Hide the blade. Every chair knows what the dark was paid. [Verse 1] Gold cups sweating under candle heat, red meat shining on a silver tray. Everybody laughs with their teeth too careful, every servant learns to look away. I wear the crown like a borrowed fever, sit up straight while the room leans in. My wife keeps smiling at the nobles, but her hand goes cold on my skin. There’s one chair empty with a name still breathing. There’s one toast stuck in the throat. There’s one man missing from the music, and the floor remembers his coat. I say, “Be welcome.” I say, “Eat plenty.” I say, “Good friends, let the night be sweet.” Then blood walks in without a body and takes the chair across from me. [Chorus] The banquet stares back. The wine turns black. I can crown my head, but I can’t crown that. All my guests go still. All my bones lose track. I fed the room a ghost, and the banquet stares back. [Verse 2] Nobody else sees what the dark brought with it, only my mouth goes loose and wild. The dead man sits with his hair rain-heavy, eyes like dirt on a murdered child. I point. They whisper. My wife says, “Nothing.” Her nails dig moons in my sleeve. But how do you host a feast for power when the proof pulls up a seat? I try to laugh like the throne still trusts me. I try to drink till the rim turns clean. But the cup keeps showing a second face there, not mine, not his, but something between. What’s done is done, till it wants conversation. What’s buried stays down, till it don’t. I killed a man to sleep more safely, now sleep won’t enter my home. [Chorus] The banquet stares back. The wine turns black. I can crown my head, but I can’t crown that. All my guests go still. All my bones lose track. I fed the room a ghost, and the banquet stares back. [Bridge] Don’t look at me. Look at the chair. Look how the empty keeps sitting there. Look at the napkin. Look at the knife. Look how a dinner learns afterlife. I paid for silence. It spoke anyway. I buried the question. It found a plate. No priest. No bell. No thunderclap. Just one dead friend and the banquet staring back. [Final Chorus] The banquet stares back. The wine turns black. I can crown my head, but I can’t crown that. All my guests go still. All my bones lose track. I fed the room a ghost, now the banquet stares back. [Outro] Clear the table. Leave the chair. Power came hungry and found me there. [End]

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