[Intro — Antique music box, distant theater ambience] [Three sharp pointe-shoe taps] Tok… Tok… Tok… [Deep male baritone, spoken, velvet-smooth] Ladies and gentlemen… Welcome to my theater. Tonight, you shall witness perfection. Seven beautiful souls… And not one of them in control. [Sinister chuckle] [Grand piano and accordion enter, dark 6/8 waltz] [Verse 1 — Seductive melodic baritone] Step through the velvet, beneath the gold, Come hear the stories the dead never told. Roses and ribbons, ambition and pride, Such beautiful secrets these dancers must hide. I offer perfection, I promise them fame, A lifetime of glory, a beautiful name. One little fitting, one delicate bow, She thinks she is dancing… But I lead her now! [Pre-Chorus — Rising strings] The satin embraces, the ribbons entwine, Her heartbeat is hers, but her footsteps are mine. She reaches for freedom, she struggles in vain, And every new movement brings exquisite pain! [Chorus — Full gothic-rock band] Dance for me! Dance for me! Let the midnight orchestra play! Turn for me! Burn for me! There’s no running away! Satin on her feet, my darkness in her soul, Every perfect little movement Is a movement I control! Dance for me! Bow for me! Let the final curtain rise! Hear the Devil’s sweet applause As the innocence inside her dies! [Instrumental — Electric guitar, organ, crooked accordion waltz] [Verse 2 — Darker, rhythmic delivery] First I take her ankles, then I take her knees, Feel her body trembling as she begs to be released. I raise her lovely chin, I paint a perfect smile, I make her whisper words of love While screaming all the while. She sees the frightened faces, She hears them call her name. Her hands become my instruments, Her feet deliver pain. And when the ones who love her Reach out to take her hand, I make her dance toward them… Just as I have planned. [Pre-Chorus — Heavy drums, ascending organ] She begs me for mercy, she begs me to cease, But I conduct the suffering, I never grant release. Her eyes are full of sorrow, her lips are full of grace, And no one sees the prisoner Behind that smiling face! [Chorus — Powerful baritone, layered choir] Dance for me! Dance for me! Let the midnight orchestra play! Turn for me! Burn for me! There’s no running away! Satin on her feet, my darkness in her soul, Every perfect little movement Is a movement I control! Dance for me! Bow for me! Let the final curtain rise! Hear the Devil’s sweet applause As the innocence inside her dies! [Bridge — Music stops, solitary piano] [Spoken, intimate and chilling] Do you know what I adore? Not the blood… Not the broken bones… Not even the silence When the screaming finally stops. No… It’s knowing she is still awake. Still watching. Still feeling. And every terrible thing she does… She feels me doing it. [Low strings, slow heartbeat drum] [Sung — Cold, commanding baritone] I make the lover kiss the satin, I make the innocent despair. I turn devotion into terror, Then leave her standing there. She cannot close her weeping eyes, She cannot turn away. I make her smile at those she loves, And force her feet to play. [Build — Drums and strings intensify] One final leap, one final cry, A perfect silhouette against the sky! One final turn, one final breath, My ballerina dances death! [Break — Sudden silence] [Spoken, almost tenderly] And now, my darling… Take your bow. [Final Chorus — Explosive symphonic gothic rock] Dance for me! Dance for me! Let the midnight orchestra play! Turn for me! Burn for me! There’s no running away! Satin on her feet, my darkness in her soul, Every perfect little movement Is a movement I control! Dance for me! Bow for me! Let the final curtain rise! Every rose will lose its petals, Every swan will lose its cries! Dance for me! Dance for me! Till the stars fall from above! I’ll turn their dreams to nightmares, And their tenderness to blood! [Outro — Instruments fade to antique music box] [Deep spoken baritone] The dancer may die. The music may stop. The theater may burn. But the Devil… [Whisper] Never misses an encore. [Three isolated pointe-shoe taps] Tok. Tok. Tok. [Music box ends on an unresolved note]
