[Verse 1] They crowned themselves eternal, taught the world to bend the knee; carved their names across the heavens, made obedience decree. Order, so they claimed, required every brand and binding spell, as though power proved them sacred, as though fear could serve them well. I'd listened in their councils, heard necessity invoked: cruelty dressed up as duty, every protest bought or broken. No command becomes divine because a ruler wills it so. If your godhood rests on bondage, you're no god at all—just power. [Pre-Chorus] I spoke the thought they had forbidden: You are less than what you claim. Someone heard me. Someone answered. Someone rose and stood again. [Chorus] I will not be your god. I will not ask you to kneel. Bring no worship. Bring no reverence. Your allegiance is your own. Walk beside me if you choose to. Turn away and owe me none. I ask no oath of service. Only this: When they tell you chains are sacred, when they tell you chains are peace, we will break what holds them fastened. You will leave here on your feet. [Verse 2] We raised refuge past their borders, flesh and Fade found shelter there; different words for every question, every answer given air. Brands that once declared possession could be stripped from skin at last. Those who chose to fight stood with us. Those who didn't still stood free. Then our name escaped the refuge, carried quietly at night; passed from servants into kitchens, passed from prisoners out of sight. Stories reached the guarded palaces: someone challenged those who reigned. Someone opened cells they'd fastened. Someone would not wear their chains. [Pre-Chorus] Soon their curses found a title, meant to wound and meant to warn. But the name they made a monster reached the ones their rule had scorned. Fen'harel. Dread Wolf. [Chorus] I will not be your god. I will not ask you to kneel. Call me traitor. Call me monster. Give them something real to fear. Walk beside me if you choose to. Turn away and owe me none. No vow binds you to my service. But if you call then I will come. When they tell you chains are sacred, when they tell you chains are peace, let them hear the locks give way. Let them learn that wolves have teeth. [Instrumental] [Verse 3] Felassan brought word by twilight: Elgar'nan held captives still. We could reach them if his soldiers turned elsewhere to match my will. Someone had to draw their master, hold his fury, buy them time. So I went to face Elgar'nan. They went in and crossed his lines. Wisdom measures cost and consequence, chooses where to make its stand. Sometimes all the measured answers still demand an acting hand. So I held his eyes upon me, kept his fury fixed in place, while behind him locks were opening, while the captives made escape. [Build] Felassan saw the blood I'd given when we met beyond their reach. I said only, "They are free now." Nothing else required speech. [Chorus] I will not be your god. I will not ask you to kneel. I have seen what gods demand to make their claim of power real. Choose the fight or choose the leaving. Neither choice belongs to me. No vow binds you to my service. You decide what freedom means. When they tell you chains are sacred, when they tell you chains are peace, let the sound of breaking iron tell them who has been set free. [Verse 4] Soon the insult changed in passing, carried farther every night; what was coined to make me monstrous made the frightened dare to fight. In the camps they told the story: Fen'harel would find a way. In the courts they barred the doorways when they heard I'd crossed the plain. I had never wanted reverence. I had wanted bondage ended. Still, a symbol crosses distances one voice never could have traveled. If the name gives courage somewhere, if the mighty dread its sound, let them paint the wolf in warning. I'll decide what it means now. [Bridge] Not a god. A man can answer. Not a god. A spirit can choose. No crown grants the right to govern what another being wills. Those of flesh and those of Fade, those who fight and those who flee, no one born with will and reason owes that will to you or me. You are yours. You remain so. That is all I guarantee. [Instrumental Build] [Final Chorus] I will not be your god. I will not ask you to kneel. Carve my name into your warnings. Teach your courts what they should fear. Walk beside me if you choose to. Turn away and owe me none. No vow binds you to my service. I ask only you believe: When they tell you chains are sacred, when they tell you chains are peace, we will break what holds them fastened. You will leave here on your feet. And if tyrants need a monster before captives can be free— let them whisper: Fen'harel. Let the Dread Wolf be me. [Outro] No gods. No masters. No knees upon the ground. Only choices. Only people. Let their thrones come down.
