Ascend - Act I — Scene Three- Burn It Clean

[The Story — New Meridian, 2091. Cael Morrow rises from the Lower Grid to lead a revolution called The Ascending, seizes the Governing Council, and slowly becomes the very thing he overthrew. His oldest friend Lyra watches the drift. His enforcer Sable runs further than he authorized. And the people eventually sing his own words back at him as an indictment.] [Sable, Ensemble — Alto Lead, SATB] [Intro] [Instrumental – drums hit hard, electric guitar enters, no piano] [Verse 1] [Female Vocal – fierce, raw] I didn't find this movement in a speech I didn't come here for the chanting in the street I came because the night my brother disappeared No one filed a report — no one even came And I decided then — someone has to burn it Someone has to stand inside the fire If the city won't give up its rot willingly Then someone has to be the flame [Chorus] [Ensemble] Burn it clean — burn it clean Don't leave a single comfortable lie Burn it down to what's true Burn it through 'Til the only thing left is the reason why [Verse 2] [Female Vocal] I'm not interested in being liked I'm interested in being heard I'm interested in results I — am — the word [Call and Response] [Female Vocal] Are you willing? [Ensemble] We're willing. [Female Vocal] Are you ready? [Ensemble] We're ready. [Bridge] [Female Vocal] Because beautiful and careful never freed anybody The door doesn't open unless you break it open Or burn it — [Final Chorus] [Female Vocal + Ensemble] Burn it clean — burn it clear Burn the fear they planted in us — burn it here Leave nothing but the truth behind Then build something of our own Something they can't take — or redefine [Outro] [Instrumental – drums cut hard to silence]