[Intro: Solo piano, whispered] Once upon an unswept kingdom [Verse 1: Intimate, sparse piano] The boy king doesn't know He's supposed to tend the castle Left the drawbridge down While I'm bailing out the moat Somebody told him crowns Mean you don't have to try So he stopped polishing his armor While I'm scrubbing the floor There's gold beneath his fingernails He can't see it for the rust I'm on my knees with rags and psalms Praying devotion's enough [Pre-Chorus: Strings enter, building] Am I queen or Am I servant in this arrangement? Am I loved or Just convenient for the maintenance? [Chorus: Fuller production, emotional weight] Can't fix a kingdom if we never name it broken Can't pretend the walls aren't caving in I'm holding court in two dimensions One where I stay, one where I begin Hearts speak louder than declarations But fairy tales need more than feeling They need somebody planting seeds (Climb the vine higher…higher) (Climb the vine higher…higher) [Verse 2: Building intensity] There's a dragon at the gate He won't even sharpen his sword The space between us Is a staircase I keep climbing He's still learning how to walk While I'm already tired of flying [Pre-Chorus: Tension rising] Am I mother or Am I maiden in this old story? [Chorus: Powerful, raw] Can't fix a kingdom if we never name it broken Can't pretend the walls aren't caving in I'm holding court in two dimensions One where I stay, one where I begin Hearts speak louder than declarations But fairy tales need more than feeling (Climb the vine higher…higher) They need somebody planting seeds (Climb the vine higher…higher) (Clinb the vine higher next time) [Bridge: Stripped, building to peak] I've been the witch, the maiden, the crone I've been the stone that wants to be touched Between two castles I'm suspended Stitching up the kingdom With thread pulled from my own spine And I'm heavy…God I'm heavy From carrying the weight of what could be While pretending I don't need… Someone to carry me (climb higher…higher…) (Oooooo oooooo) I deserve a throne Not a floor to keep on cleaning (Climb higher…higher…) (Oooooo oooooo) [Final Chorus: Emotional climax] Can't fix a kingdom if we never name it broken Can't pretend the walls aren't caving in I'm holding court in two dimensions One where I stay, one where I begin Hearts speak louder than declarations But fairy tales need more than feeling (Climb the vine higher…higher) They need somebody planting seeds (Climb the vine higher…higher) (Climb the vine higher next time) [Outro: Return to whisper] Once upon an unswept kingdom Lived a woman who forgot (Climb the vine higher…higher…) She could leave (Climb the vine higher…higher…) (Climb the vine higher…higher…) The end or the beginning Depends on which door she believes (Climb the vine higher this time) [End]
