Babylon Fever

Verse 1 Babylon fever In the wet white sheet Someone at the doorway Trying not to move their feet There were cups beside the basin There were flies above the wine There were men outside asking If the world was still mine I could hear the river breathing I could hear the courtyard sing I could hear them changing voices For the deathbed of a king Someone said, “He’s stronger” Someone said, “He’ll rise” Someone said it softly Like a favour to my eyes Pre-Chorus But the body is a country That the crown cannot command And the fever took my fingers Like a province from my hand Chorus Babylon fever Don’t make me a saint I was only a body They taught not to faint Babylon fever Don’t polish the pain I was only a boy With too much of a name Verse 2 They brought me little questions They brought me little lies They brought me all the generals With tomorrow in their eyes “Who will take the kingdom?” “Who will hold the line?” I could barely hold the water They were holding out for signs I wanted one more morning I wanted one less room I wanted not to hear them Making futures in the gloom Bridge No horse at the bedside No thunder in the wall No gods in the ceiling No glory there at all Just heat beneath the linen Just breath that wouldn’t stay Just every road I’d ever taken Coming back the other way Final Chorus Babylon fever Don’t make me a saint I was only a body They taught not to faint Babylon fever Don’t polish the pain I was only a boy With too much of a name Outro Babylon fever The room went gold Someone touched my forehead And the world let go