Judge me when the ashes fall Not before you’ve seen it all I saw the cities burn in gold I heard the prophets selling lies While heroes posed on marble thrones And turned away their blinded eyes You call me tyrant, call me fiend But where were you when children cried? I chose the blade you feared to hold I chose the truth you pushed aside Mercy is a luxury Peace is bought with scars So I’ll wear the crown of necessary sin Let history curse my name If the world survives the storm I bring I’ll gladly take the blame I am not your dark for darkness’ sake I am the fire that must begin A thousand lives against a war A broken scale that tips in fate You see the blood upon my hands I see the millions that it saved Would you pull the lever? Would you light the flame? Or do you need a monster So you don’t have to take the shame? So I’ll wear the crown of necessary sin Let history curse my name If the world survives the storm I bring I’ll gladly take the blame When statues fall and truth remains You’ll know why I stepped in Call me villain If that lets you sleep
