the Cassock Flame

[Intro – whispered over organ and tolling bells] Ash to ash in the chapel light A shadow drinks the wine tonight Under God, beneath the stain He wears the cross, but speaks my name [Verse 1] He came in white with a mouth full of scripture Golden cuff, holy hand, perfect picture But under linen, under lace There burned a brand no saint could face He raised the cup, said, “Drink and follow” Voice like thunder in a room gone hollow Every prayer fell stillborn, cold As the serpent slipped inside his soul [Pre-Chorus] And the candles bent low As the black wind rose From the nave to the bone He was never alone [Chorus] Lucifer, inside the priest Feeding on the holy feast Red beneath the sacred thread Crown the living, wake the dead Heaven weeps, but hell has come Through the mouth of the chosen one Swing the censer, strike the flame No one leaves here quite the same [Verse 2] He kissed the ring with a fevered hunger Felt his pulse grow dark and younger Choir boys froze, the rafters shook At the fire behind his sacred look Confession turned to sweet corruption Mercy drowned in a black eruption Every “amen” split in two One for God and one for you [Pre-Chorus] And the icons cracked gold As the blood hymn rolled Through the ribs of the night He came dressed in light [Chorus] Lucifer, inside the priest Feeding on the holy feast Red beneath the sacred thread Crown the living, wake the dead Heaven weeps, but hell has come Through the mouth of the chosen one Swing the censer, strike the flame No one leaves here quite the same [Bridge – cinematic, half-time, choral] Kyrie… hear the choir decay Gloria… as the saints give way He lifts his hands, but not to pray He opens wide and lets him stay The altar cracks The veil is torn A lord of ash A king reborn [Breakdown – slow, stomping, call-and-response] BEND THE KNEE —to the teeth beneath the grin DRINK THE BLOOD —let the false god in SWING THE CHAIN —hear the old bells break NAME THE DEVIL —for the shepherd’s sake Cassock black! Halo gone! God went silent— HELL SANG ON! Cassock black! Halo gone! He wears the horns BENEATH THE DAWN! [Final Chorus – bigger, layered choir] Lucifer, inside the priest Feeding on the holy feast Red beneath the sacred thread Crown the living, wake the dead Heaven weeps, but hell has come Through the mouth of the chosen one Swing the censer, strike the flame No one leaves here quite the same [Outro – organ, choir, fading guitar lead] Ash to ash in the chapel light The lamb lay down beside the night Under God, beneath the frame The priest was gone The fire remained