[Intro – Whispered Over Clock Ticks + Slide Guitar] "Every song I wrote was rust and ruin... Until he showed up... With gold strings and a grin carved from coal." [*tick*—*tick*—*tick*—CRASH into first verse] [Verse 1 – Low, bluesy] Had a six-string heart and a copper tongue, Played alley bars where the drunks still sung. Brass boots worn through soles and sin, Hoped the gears might turn again. But every night the notes fell flat, Tunes bled dry like a rotted rat. Till he slid up in smoke and red, And this is what the devil said... [Chorus – Heavy, full-band] “Play for me, boy, play your shame, Tune that soul like a burning flame.* I’ll give you strings made of pain and gold— Just sign your name where the ink runs cold.* Clockwork dreams and dust-choked fame— It all ends the bloody same.* Gears and gravesongs, that’s your sound— Sing for hell or stay underground.* [Verse 2 – Guitar riff sharpens, vocals rise] I shook his hand with a trembled breath, Brass rings cold like a kiss of death. Said, “I’ll take fire over fade,” And played till mirrors cracked in shade. Crowds came quick, the coins poured in, But I heard steam hiss beneath my grin. Every solo carved my chest, Like my bones begged me to rest. [Bridge – Spoken with Reverb, Organ rising beneath] "He told me fame was just a gear— One twist too tight, and it’ll tear the whole thing apart... And here I am... winding down…" [clock winding SFX – *tick* *tick* *tick*—*snap*] [Chorus – More frantic, drums double-time] “Play for me, boy, till your hands fall clean, Let the strings scream where your sins have been.* I gave you crowds, but they want blood— They'll cheer you straight into the mud.* Clockwork dreams, rusted crown— One wrong note, and it all comes down.* Gears and gravesongs, built to break— The music ends when the soul can’t fake.* [Instrumental Break – Guitar Solo + Mechanical Whirs] [bluesy guitar wails like a warning, brass stabs echo like ticking detonators] [Final Verse – Quiet, haunting] Now I play in halls of steam and smoke, Each chord tighter on my throat. The devil claps from velvet rows, And I can't stop these songs he chose. [Final Chorus – Slower, haunting echo version] Play for me, boy, play your shame, Tune that soul like a dying flame. Clockwork dreams and bone-cut fame— You gave your name, now own the game. Gears and gravesongs, grind and gleam— The price of every broken dream. [Outro – Whispered with Fade Out Guitar Harmonics + Clock Tick] "I wanted the world to hear me… Now they never stop." [*tick*… *tick*… silence.]
