[Intro — instrumental; cold pulse, wing hit, bass swell; no vocals] [Verse 1 — close, restrained contempt] You wore concern like perfume A little sweet, a little dead All that careful love you carried Still had dirt beneath the thread I let you stand where I could see you Near the door, but never through Even then, the room knew better Than to turn its back on you You found the softest place to press And called the pressure care I saw your love bare its teeth And knew enough from there [Pre-Chorus 1 — dry half-laugh] Sweetheart, that was not devotion That was hunger taught to wait Love does not leave fingerprints On the latch of a cage [Chorus 1 — full impact; clean hostile belt] Line the streets with pretty faces Teach the rats to say amen Call the cage a social contract Call the butcher’s work a plan KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND In the house your kind designed All your laws are just a muzzle With a ribbon tied behind Scream for someone else to save you Find a god that gives a damn I have seen enough of people KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND [Verse 2 — sharper groove; bass forward] You learned to tilt the story Till the blade looked like a bruise Then asked the cut for comfort Like it owed you being used Love in certain mouths Keeps a leash inside the word Loose enough to pass for comfort Tight enough to not be heard By the time the room looked over You were arranging what was true And the softest voice was sorry For the space it took from you [Pre-Chorus 2 — lower, colder] Do not tremble in my doorway Wearing harm like borrowed proof I know the shape of feeding Even sweetened into truth [Chorus 2 — heavier; sparse harmony stack] Line the room with pretty faces Teach the rats to call it care Call the cage a conversation Call the butcher being fair KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND In the house your kind designed All your love is just a muzzle With a ribbon tied behind Cry for someone else to save you Find a god that gives a damn I have heard enough from people KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND [Verse 3 — surgical; guitars answer in gaps] Do not act surprised now That the distance has a name I do not bare my throat to mouths That practice sounding tame What you pressed into the corner Was not proof that you were strong Only evidence still breathing That my patience lasted long Take your almost-love with you Take the trembling little crown I have seen what crawls beneath it I am bored of looking down [Pre-Chorus 3 — stop before final line] Courtesy was never shelter It was distance, neatly kept I gave you room to prove me wrong How elegantly you failed [Chorus 3 — brutal lift; harsher backing accents] Line the lie with pretty faces Teach the rats to say amen Call the cage an act of loving Call the butcher’s touch a plan KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND In the house your kind designed All your care is just a muzzle With a ribbon tied behind Scream like no one saw the pressure Find a god that gives a damn I have smelled enough of people KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND [Bridge — guitars drop; cold piano/cello; dry voice] Civil was never welcome It was distance with manners A chair outside the threshold For things not worth my anger Some names do not belong here They are cleaner kept from you A mouth that made a weapon Does not get the truth The hurt became your costume Pity took your side How tedious How human Go burn quietly [Breakdown — half-time chugs; spoken venom; screamed backing] KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND (KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND) Keep the love in your mouth (KEEP IT) KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND (KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND) Chew it slow Choke it down (CHOKE IT DOWN) KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND (NO CLOSER) No closer Not an inch (NOT AN INCH) I was civil That was all (THAT WAS ALL) [Final Chorus — octave double on hook; screamed backing on hook only; hard final hit] Line the ash with pretty faces Teach the rats to say amen Call the cage a social contract Call the butcher’s work the plan KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND (KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND) In the house your kind designed Every apology is a muzzle With a ribbon tied behind Scream for someone else to save you Find a god that gives a damn I have nothing left for people KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND (KINDLY, BURN WHERE YOU STAND) [Outro — cold pulse; abrupt cut] Survival is not forgiveness... Your Existence is Meaningless... Kindly...burn...
