The R’lyeh Rhythm Kings -3. Don’t Call His Name

Don’t Call His Name [Intro — slow piano, brushed drums] [Female Vocal — softly] Come a little closer, darling. There are some things a lady shouldn’t know. And some names a gentleman shouldn’t say. [Verse 1] There’s a word beneath the water, There’s a whisper in my room, There’s a shadow on the window When the tide follows the moon. I heard it from a sailor Who went laughing to his grave, He said, “Pretty little lady, Don’t you listen to the waves.” [Chorus] Don’t call his name, Don’t call his name, No matter how sweetly he calls. Don’t call his name, Don’t play his game, Don’t answer that knock in the walls. Keep your pretty lips closed, Turn out the light, Hold me until morning And we might be all right. But whatever you do, darling… Don’t call his name tonight. [Muted trumpet solo] [Verse 2] Last night I dreamed of cities Where no city ought to be, With crooked towers shining Underneath a black-green sea. Something sat there dreaming, Something old and grand, And when it turned to face me… I woke with mud upon my hands. [Chorus] Don’t call his name, Don’t call his name, Though you hear him under the floor. Don’t call his name, Don’t play his game, Don’t open that goddamn door. Pour another whiskey, Pull the curtains tight, Kiss me like you mean it, We may not see daylight. And whatever you do, darling… Don’t call his name tonight. [Instrumental — smoky tenor sax] [Bridge — almost whispered] They say he sleeps. [Backing vocals] He sleeps… [Lead] They say he dreams. [Backing vocals] He dreams… [Lead] They say when the stars are right, He’ll rise up from the sea. [Pause] So tell me, darling… Why is he dreaming of me? [Band swells] [Final Chorus] Don’t call his name! Don’t call his name! I can hear that old sea roar! Don’t call his name! Don’t call his name! [Backing vocals, increasingly hypnotic] Cthulhu… Cthulhu… [Lead] No! [Backing vocals] Cthulhu… Cthulhu… [Lead — breathless] I told you fools— DON’T CALL HIS NAME! [Band crashes] [Outro — whispered over piano] Cthulhu… [Female Vocal] …damn. [Final piano chord]