LEVIATHAN — A GOD WITHOUT A FACE

[Intro — low organ; close female whisper] I thought the silence meant You were listening. [Verse 1 — low female contralto; glacial guitar, distant funeral drums] Above the maze, you slowly turned; The shadows turned below. I followed every narrow stair Where your appointed servants go. I laid my name upon the stone, My questions at the door. They said that you would make me whole If I would ask for nothing more. [Pre-Chorus — restrained female lead; warm female choir gathering] I mistook the weight of silence For a hand upon my head. I waited for an answer. Your servants sang instead. [Chorus — soaring mournful female lead; immense organ and crushing guitars] LEVIATHAN! A GOD WITHOUT A FACE! I laid my living heart before Your cold, revolving grace. No eyes to see my suffering— No mouth to say enough. I gave you everything I am. Your priests have called it love. [Female Choir — gentle, reverent] We belong. We belong. [Verse 2 — darker female contralto; steady, oppressive pulse] A sister faltered at my side. I reached to help her stand. The cantor pushed my shoulder down And folded back my hand. We sang until her footsteps ceased. No voice was out of time. I heard how perfect we had grown— And hated every line. [Pre-Chorus — female lead trembling; choir rigid and unnaturally synchronized] The hymn went on without her. No one turned to see. I kept my mouth in motion And felt her reaching back for me. [Chorus — anguished female belts; choir losing warmth] LEVIATHAN! A GOD WITHOUT A FACE! I laid my living heart before Your cold, revolving grace. No eyes to see my suffering— No mouth to say enough. I gave you everything I am. Your priests have called it love. [Female Choir — flat, exact, each syllable identical] We obey. We obey. [Bridge — drums disappear; solitary cello, exposed female voice] If I am loved, then let me grieve. If I am yours, then let me speak. What holiness demands I leave A fallen sister at my feet? I felt the choir take up my breath And fill the place where I had cried. It sounded almost like my voice— With nothing trembling left inside. [Brief Guitar Lament — slow, fractured melody; organ holds one unresolved chord] [Breakdown — massive spaced impacts; female soloist against mechanical female choir] [Female Lead — desperate] Do you know my name? [Female Choir — clipped, emotionless] KEEP THE MEASURE. [Female Lead — breaking] Do you hear my prayer? [Female Choir — identical rhythm] HOLD THE NOTE. [Female Lead — one last sustained cry] Is there mercy here? [Female Choir — absolute unison] REMAIN. REPEAT. OBEY. [Final Chorus — raw female lead; overwhelming choir, glacial orchestral weight] LEVIATHAN! A GOD WITHOUT A FACE! There is no heart behind the law, No mercy in this place. No eyes to see my suffering— No mouth to say enough. You only needed me to kneel. I needed it to mean your love. [Final Refrain — female lead fading beneath the choir] No eyes to see my suffering— No mouth to say enough. [Female Choir — perfectly measured; all expression removed] REMAIN. REPEAT. OBEY. [Outro — solo female whisper, barely audible] I stopped believing. My mouth kept singing. [Choir sustains one cold note. Abrupt silence.]