I used to think the sky bent down Because it knew my name. Now I know every cheer became Another link in the chain. To the boy upon the runway, I would say: don’t trust their praise. Applause can sound like love When you’ve never learned its shape. They’ll call control protection. They’ll call obedience faith. Before they name you the axis, Look for blood beneath the weight. When the chains were forged in pain, We wrote our glory in the stains. We were taught to dance in rain And ignore the blood behind the name. The crown was a chain, Gold at my throat, guilt in my veins. I forgive the man who woke up too late— Not the blood, not the dead, not the choices he made. The crown was a chain. Forgiveness won’t wash what the years couldn’t save, But I won’t make a home in the grave of my shame. The crown was—the crown was a chain. To the man who wears tomorrow, I impose a harder law: Protect without possession. Never make your wounds a cause. Ask before you order. Make no weapon of your grief. If correction makes you violent, Then the Crown still lives beneath. IF I RETURN, I RETURN AS A MAN! NO POSTER! NO LEVER! NO CROWN IN MY HAND! PROTECT—DON’T POSSESS! ASK—DON’T COMMAND! PAIN WILL NOT CHOOSE WHAT I BECOME! The crown was a chain. I will not wear it again. I will not build it again. I will not become it again. And all that remains, Are the ashes and stains. Bloodonthemic: This song will be going live on all major streaming platforms on 9/10
