[Intro] Five men waited by the bridge. Four went hōme. I didn't. [Verse 1] I've wālked this rōad with dust in my teeth, rust in my lungs and Hell underneath. The sun went dōwn behind Mercy Hill; every grave went quiet and still. There's nō saint left beneath this coat, just old mistakes and a dry man's throat. Heaven's had years to settle the score— I'm still breathing outside its dōor. [Pre-Chorus] They sāid— “Repent.” I sāid.... “Nēver.” [Chorus] Rāise your glāss, you miserable sods, we're still alive against the odds. Let Heaven bolt every dōor that it owns— we'll drink with the dead, but never alone. Through smoke, through blōod, through ruin and fire— RĀISE HELL PROPER! DEAD DUST CHOIR! [Verse 2] I found the lāst pub east of the line, three cracked windows and terrible wine. An old bloke asked, “Are you half-dead?” “Give it an hour,” was all I sāid. The floorboards groaned beneath our feet, a rusted hymn with a funeral beat. Every poor sod already knew— the dead sing first. Then we do too. [Bridge] Būry me slōw. Let the old bells ring. I've got nōthing left worth sāving. The earth can tāke what the years couldn't break. And Gōd— can keep me wāiting. [Pause] “Another?” Go on, then. [Breakdown] I cān't wash the blōod from my hānds. I cān't outrun what I am. So carve my nāme where the good men won't— I. SĀID. NĒVER. RĀISE. HELL. PROPER. [Final Chorus] RĀISE YOUR GLĀSS, YOU MISERABLE SODS! WE'RE STILL ALIVE AGAINST THE ODDS! LET HEAVEN BOLT EVERY DŌOR THAT IT OWNS— WE'LL DRINK WITH THE DEAD, BUT NEVER ALONE! Through smoke, through blōod, through ruin and fire— RĀISE HELL PROPER! WE ARE THE DEAD DUST CHOIR! [Final Impact] [Outro] Five men waited by the bridge. Four went hōme. I didn't. [Hard Stop]
