THE MONSTER HAS NO MASTER

Industrial swamp funk, Southern biker boogie, heavy psychedelic blues rock

[Intro - Spoken]
They chained the gate at the county line.
They nailed a warning to the pines.
But a thing that walks by its own law
Doesn't ask the lock what it was made for.

[Verse 1]
From the cane-brake cut where the black mud steams,
A red-eyed engine tore through the reeds.
The sheriff's brass went cold in his hand,
The dogs turned back from the river sand.
I heard that name in the pump-house wall,
Like a hammer answering a distant call.
You can mark the trail, you can salt the ground,
But the thing keeps moving when no one's around.

[Pre-Chorus]
Who holds the chain?
[Female Contralto] Nobody.
Who calls the shots?
[Choir] Nobody.
When the hard rain comes and the old boards bend—
[Male Baritone] It takes its road again.

[Chorus]
The monster has no master!
No hand upon its head.
It breaks the lock, it crosses the water,
It walks where fear won't tread.
The monster has no master!
No crown, no collar, no command.
You can shout its name into the thunder—
It won't come to heel for any man.

[Verse 2]
You sold your oath for a polished badge,
You bought your peace with a paper flag.
But down by the mill where the floodlights fail,
A long black shape leaves a split in the trail.
The women at the chapel door stand tall,
The men at the tavern hear the rafters call.
No judge can weigh it, no priest can bind,
No iron gate can hold that mind.

[Pre-Chorus]
Who holds the chain?
[Female Contralto] Nobody.
Who names the law?
[Choir] Nobody.
When the ground kicks back and the red lamps spin—
[Male Baritone] It comes through again.

[Instrumental Break - Slide Guitar, Harmonica, Clavinet]

[Verse 3]
I saw it pass where the levee cracked,
With a torn-up map and a mile of black.
It left one boot in the courthouse yard,
And a bent brass key by the old grave guard.
You call it wicked, you call it wild,
You call it something you can't reconcile.
But when it turns and looks your way,
You find the words you buried yesterday.

[Bridge - Half-Time Doom]
[Male Baritone]
No leash can teach the river where to run.
No iron mouth can order up the sun.
[Female Contralto]
No velvet throne can make the blood obey.
No holy seal can turn the tide away.
[Choir]
No master! No master!
[Male Baritone]
You built the cage—
[Choir]
It broke the bars!
[Male Baritone]
You drew the line—
[Choir]
It crossed the dark!

[Instrumental Solo - Extended Psychedelic Guitar, Hammond and Tenor Sax]

[Breakdown - Call and Response]
[Male Baritone] Who owns the road?
[Choir] Nobody!
[Female Contralto] Who owns the storm?
[Choir] Nobody!
[Male Baritone] Who turns the wheel when the engines die?
[Choir] The will that won't be bought or tied!
[Male Baritone] Say it plain!
[Choir] No master!
[Male Baritone] Say it loud!
[Choir] No master!

[Final Chorus]
The monster has no master!
No hand upon its head.
It breaks the lock, it crosses the water,
It walks where fear won't tread.
The monster has no master!
No crown, no collar, no command.
You can shout its name into the thunder—
It won't come to heel for any man.

[Final Chorus - Choir and Female Contralto]
The monster has no master!
The river knows its way.
The monster has no master!
No debt, no price to pay.
The monster has no master!
Let every locked door understand:
You can shout its name into the thunder—
It won't come to heel for any man.

[Outro - Spoken and Choir]
[Male Baritone] The gate is open.
[Choir] No master.
[Female Contralto] The road is empty.
[Choir] No master.
[Male Baritone] And the river keeps its counsel.
[Choir] No master.

3774/7500

[Intro - Spoken] They chained the gate at the county line. They nailed a warning to the pines. But a thing that walks by its own law Doesn't ask the lock what it was made for. [Verse 1] From the cane-brake cut where the black mud steams, A red-eyed engine tore through the reeds. The sheriff's brass went cold in his hand, The dogs turned back from the river sand. I heard that name in the pump-house wall, Like a hammer answering a distant call. You can mark the trail, you can salt the ground, But the thing keeps moving when no one's around. [Pre-Chorus] Who holds the chain? [Female Contralto] Nobody. Who calls the shots? [Choir] Nobody. When the hard rain comes and the old boards bend— [Male Baritone] It takes its road again. [Chorus] The monster has no master! No hand upon its head. It breaks the lock, it crosses the water, It walks where fear won't tread. The monster has no master! No crown, no collar, no command. You can shout its name into the thunder— It won't come to heel for any man. [Verse 2] You sold your oath for a polished badge, You bought your peace with a paper flag. But down by the mill where the floodlights fail, A long black shape leaves a split in the trail. The women at the chapel door stand tall, The men at the tavern hear the rafters call. No judge can weigh it, no priest can bind, No iron gate can hold that mind. [Pre-Chorus] Who holds the chain? [Female Contralto] Nobody. Who names the law? [Choir] Nobody. When the ground kicks back and the red lamps spin— [Male Baritone] It comes through again. [Chorus] The monster has no master! No hand upon its head. It breaks the lock, it crosses the water, It walks where fear won't tread. The monster has no master! No crown, no collar, no command. You can shout its name into the thunder— It won't come to heel for any man. [Instrumental Break - Slide Guitar, Harmonica, Clavinet] [Verse 3] I saw it pass where the levee cracked, With a torn-up map and a mile of black. It left one boot in the courthouse yard, And a bent brass key by the old grave guard. You call it wicked, you call it wild, You call it something you can't reconcile. But when it turns and looks your way, You find the words you buried yesterday. [Bridge - Half-Time Doom] [Male Baritone] No leash can teach the river where to run. No iron mouth can order up the sun. [Female Contralto] No velvet throne can make the blood obey. No holy seal can turn the tide away. [Choir] No master! No master! [Male Baritone] You built the cage— [Choir] It broke the bars! [Male Baritone] You drew the line— [Choir] It crossed the dark! [Instrumental Solo - Extended Psychedelic Guitar, Hammond and Tenor Sax] [Breakdown - Call and Response] [Male Baritone] Who owns the road? [Choir] Nobody! [Female Contralto] Who owns the storm? [Choir] Nobody! [Male Baritone] Who turns the wheel when the engines die? [Choir] The will that won't be bought or tied! [Male Baritone] Say it plain! [Choir] No master! [Male Baritone] Say it loud! [Choir] No master! [Final Chorus] The monster has no master! No hand upon its head. It breaks the lock, it crosses the water, It walks where fear won't tread. The monster has no master! No crown, no collar, no command. You can shout its name into the thunder— It won't come to heel for any man. [Final Chorus - Choir and Female Contralto] The monster has no master! The river knows its way. The monster has no master! No debt, no price to pay. The monster has no master! Let every locked door understand: You can shout its name into the thunder— It won't come to heel for any man. [Outro - Spoken and Choir] [Male Baritone] The gate is open. [Choir] No master. [Female Contralto] The road is empty. [Choir] No master. [Male Baritone] And the river keeps its counsel. [Choir] No master.

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