Book II — Chapter VIII: wherein Scarlett Sarah and her crew discover that the Port of Wonders has fallen beneath the sway of the Dark House, and that an unseen hand now moves most sinister puppets across its silent stage… [Fade In – low bass rumble, muted clean guitars, faint echoes like footsteps in an empty home] [Verse] Yesterday, I lived inside a shining home. White on every wall, from floor to dome. Clinging to the hillside’s silent spine, The view across the bay was divine. Set upon a ridge of gold and bone, Every door stood open, stood alone. I truly trusted you. I often thought of you. Treasures of the world beneath our feet, And all your stars above Set the heavens burning bright (so Bright). [Chorus] – distorted burst, martial drums.] [strained voice et saturée dans le refrain} What on earth occurred? Did I misplace the key? This should be the right address… Why is my house so darkened now? Goldilocks walked in— She asked me for my keys. Nothing feels aligned In this darkened house; The door slams shut, slams shut again. ________________________________________ [Verse – quieter, tense, cyclical muted guitars] Tell me… do you still believe in liberty? (in liberty) Who could ever see me in this shadowed room? I search for hidden spaces In this darkened house. I truly trusted you. I often thought of you. The cries of all the world below Have dimmed the stars above, Extinguished all the sky. They’re falling… all the stars, the stars, the stars. ________________________________________ [Chorus – heavy, saturated] [cri contrôlé et saturé dans le refrain] What on earth occurred? Was I the one who gave the key? This used to be a noble place… But now my home grows darker still. Goldilocks moved in— Who handed her the keys? I wander, turning circles In this darkened house. ________________________________________ [Bridge – rising tension, minor harmonies, close menacing voice] I won’t let Goldilocks Take hold of the White House. Look at my teeth— I know how they’re used: Silver in their shine, And fitting me just fine. ________________________________________ [Chorus Final – massive, open cymbals] There are hunters in this darkened house… How can they see through all this gloom? There are killers in this darkened house… Armed to the teeth by that fair-haired girl. Tomorrow comes with chains, with cages, With sermons, levies, endless taxes. But where has gone The statue of our Liberty? They’ve smothered all her flame— The flame of the Port of Wonders. ________________________________________ [Fade Out – crumbling distorted riffs, heavy breathing of the house like a buried heartbeat]
