**[Intro]** *(Soft acoustic picking, ominous whisper)* "Confess... confess..." the shadows hum, The candle drips, the night grows numb. **[Verse 1]** The bishop smiles with velvet gloves, Tracing sins like dying doves. "Speak your truth or speak in flame," The holy writ absolves the shame. **[Chorus]** Oh, light the pyre, call the choir, Sing the hymns of righteous fire. Ash to ash and dust to dust, God will judge—but burn he must. **[Verse 2]** The widow kneels, her fingers crossed, Her daughter’s name the ledger lost. "Tell me, child, who kissed the moon?" The rack replies a jagged tune. **[Bridge]** *(Instrumental—haunting fiddle)* The iron tongue, the silent plea, No saints here—just you and me. **[Verse 3]** The jailer drinks his sacrament, While blood dries on the testament. "Mercy’s just another lie," The gallows nod, the crows reply. **[Chorus]** Oh, light the pyre, call the choir, Sing the hymns of righteous fire. Ash to ash and dust to dust, God will judge—but burn he must. **[Verse 4]** The cardinal counts his coins at dawn, The heretic’s ghost keeps walking on. "Blessed are the pure," they say, As children turn their heads away. **[Bridge]** *(Whispered, over sparse guitar)* The ink is dry, the verdict’s read, The fire eats what faith has fed. **[Chorus]** *(Final, defiant)* Oh, light the pyre, call the choir, Sing the hymns of righteous fire. Ash to ash and dust to dust, God will judge—but burn he must. **[Outro]** *(Fade out on a lone whistle, like wind through bones)* "Confess... confess..." the embers sigh, The smoke still prays—but so do I.
