[Verse 1] December fifth, the snow turns black under cloven tread Chains drag the ground, bells ring like the dead I smell the guilt from three towns away Little hands that hit, little mouths that lied all day Birch rods whistling, tongue long and wet I peel the skin of the year they won’t forget No red suit mercy, no list of the nice Just the sack and the dark and the price of their vice [Chorus] Krampus comes when the coal runs out I am the shadow Saint Nick won’t talk about Hooves on the rooftop, horns through the door I take the rotten ones, leave the poor No presents, no peace, just the bag and the cold I am the myth that the parents still hold Krampusnacht, the reckoning starts I drag the wicked straight into the dark [Verse 2] You left the cookies, you left the milk But you also left bruises and secrets and silk I know every scream you buried in the yard Every “it was just a game” that went too hard I stuff them in the basket, one by one Kicking and clawing till the night is done Some I beat bloody with the switches I grew Some I carry screaming to the place they never knew [Chorus] Krampus comes when the coal runs out I am the shadow Saint Nick won’t talk about Hooves on the rooftop, horns through the door I take the rotten ones, leave the poor No presents, no peace, just the bag and the cold I am the myth that the parents still hold Krampusnacht, the reckoning starts I drag the wicked straight into the dark [Bridge] The church bells try to drown me out The holy men cross themselves and shout But the children who earned it already know I’m the debt collector the season won’t show Fur matted with frost, eyes burning red I don’t bring toys… I bring what’s owed instead [Final Chorus] Krampus comes when the coal runs out I am the shadow Saint Nick won’t talk about Hooves on the rooftop, horns through the door I take the rotten ones, leave the poor No presents, no peace, just the bag and the cold I am the myth that the parents still hold Krampusnacht, the reckoning starts I drag the wicked straight into the dark [Outro] Chains… bells… silence. Sleep tight.
