Lanterns Ain’t For The Livin’

LANTERNS AIN’T FOR THE LIVIN’ INTRO — DISTANT TRANSMISSION (Radio static. Low thunder. Water creaking against wood.) “…all ships advised…” (pause.) “…if the tide starts glowin’ green..” (Distant harbor bell.) “…and if something down there looks up at you…” (Static crackles.) “…don’t stare back!” (Low voice beneath the transmission.) “…cause them lanterns ain’t for the livin’…” [BEAT DROPS] ⸻ VERSE 1 Whole dock silent but the chains still swing Fog rolled in like a living thing Moon sank low through the boiling rain Green fire burning beneath the main Crew went still when the water hummed No wind blowing but the bells still rung Old man froze with his drink half-poured Said, “Them lights mean death near shore.” Rain cut sideways across the pier Whole damn harbor disappeared Every rope on the dock pulled tight Something down there woke tonight ⸻ PRE-HOOK Don’t lean over Don’t say names Don’t chase lights Through the rain Don’t stand still When bells ring back Dead things listen Beneath the black ⸻ HOOK Lanterns ain’t for the livin’ Green fire under the tide Something walking beneath us Keeping pace on the other side Lanterns ain’t for the livin’ Keep your eyes off the waterline Whole sea whispers when the radio speaks Dead lights moving beneath our feet (Distant drowned male voices.) “LIGHTS DOWN LOW…” “DEAD MEN KNOW…” ⸻ VERSE 2 Dead birds circling upside down Rain hit sideways without a sound Anchors hanging in midnight air Whole crew staring — nobody dared Crewmate swore through shaking breath He watched his mother rise from death Captain shouted, “Don’t meet their eyes!” Lantern choir answered from the tide Ship wheel turned with nobody there Ropes tied knots in the freezing air Lightning burned underneath the waves Lit the ocean floor with graves ⸻ PRE-HOOK Don’t answer When they call your name Dead mouths whisper Through wind and rain Don’t stare long At the lantern gleam Drowned men remember What living men dream ⸻ HOOK — HEAVIER Lanterns ain’t for the livin’ Green fire burning sickly white Dead men walk where the tide rolls thin Hear ’em knock on the hull tonight Lanterns ain’t for the livin’ Hear the whole black harbor call If them lanterns spell your name in green— You ain’t coming home at all. (Deep male crew chant.) “LIGHTS DOWN LOW!” “DEAD MEN KNOW!” ⸻ VERSE 3 Then the harbor bells rang low Three slow cries from below the boats Every man froze at the waterline Green lights answered every chime Rain came down with a dead man’s weight Clouds hung low at the harbor gate Something moved underneath the foam Calling every sailor home Captain warned us, “Don’t look down.” Green light spread without a sound Lanterns formed in a crooked line One burned under every man Then one light broke from underneath Drifted slow toward the quay Every sailor backed away Something down there knew who’d stay. ⸻ BRIDGE — CAPTAIN TRANSMISSION (Beat drops low. Foghorn drone. Heavy water against the hull.) I seen lanterns move where feet can’t stand Seen black waves crawl across dry land Seen whole storms kneel beside the mast But I ain’t never seen the sea rise this fast Saw green lights burning beneath the keel Saw things down there that shouldn’t be real Then one stopped… Right beneath my feet. (Everything cuts.) (Barely audible beneath the water.) “Lights down low…” (Captain breathes.) Something moved beneath that green… (Long pause.) “Dead men know…” I leaned across the rail. (Silence.) It looked up. I looked down. (Static crackles.) And God Almighty… I stared back. [BASS SLAMS IN] ⸻ FINAL HOOK Lanterns ain’t for the livin’ Green fire burning sickly white Dead men walk where the tide rolls thin Hear ’em knock on the hull tonight Lanterns ain’t for the livin’ Don’t look down when the tide glows green Don’t trust bells that ring unseen If them lanterns whisper your name through rain— You already wear the harbor chains. (Massive male crew chant over war drums and boot stomps.) “LIGHTS DOWN LOW!” “DEAD MEN KNOW!” “LIGHTS DOWN LOW!” “DEAD MEN KNOW!” [INSTRUMENTS CUT] ⸻ OUTRO — RADIO DEATH (Radio distortion. Rain. Something heavy strikes beneath the hull.) “…this is Voodoo Radio…” (Static.) “…transmission failing…” (Water scraping beneath the hull.) “…something underneath us got lanterns…” (Single harbor bell.) (Faint voice beneath the static.) “…dead men know…” (Static dies.)