[Intro – distant bells, cold wind, clean harmonized guitars] Can you hear the Reaper's bells? Christmas time has come again... [Heavy Riff] [Verse 1] Snow lies heavy on the roofs Frozen streets and winter moons Candles flicker behind the glass Midnight waits for the hours to pass Then through the silence, dressed in black A silver scythe across his back No sleigh bells ringing, no reindeer flight Just one dark shadow in the snow tonight [Pre-Chorus] Hear the church bell slowly call See his shadow cross the wall Don't be frightened, don't you run Christmas night has just begun [Chorus] CAN YOU HEAR THE REAPER'S BELLS? CHRISTMAS TIME HAS COME AGAIN RINGING THROUGH THE FROZEN NIGHT UNDER STARS OF SILVER WHITE Raise your glass and hold it high Watch the snow fall from the sky Not every bell's a death knell tonight Even the Reaper needs Christmas light [Melodic Twin-Guitar Break] [Verse 2] No red coat and no white beard Still, somehow, he's welcome here He leaves his scythe beside the door And shakes the snow onto the floor Someone pours another drink He stares at it and stops to think Then takes a chair beside the flame For one cold night, he forgets your name [Pre-Chorus] Outside, winter rules the street Inside, fire warms his feet Nobody asks how long he'll stay Nobody wants to spoil the day [Chorus] CAN YOU HEAR THE REAPER'S BELLS? CHRISTMAS TIME HAS COME AGAIN RINGING THROUGH THE FROZEN NIGHT UNDER STARS OF SILVER WHITE Raise your glass and hold it high Watch the snow fall from the sky Not every bell's a death knell tonight Even the Reaper needs Christmas light [Heavy Groove Riff] [Breakdown] No list... No toys... No sleigh... No choice? [Pause] Relax. It's Christmas. [Crushing Riff] [Verse 3] The clock strikes twelve, the fire burns low Outside waits the falling snow He stands and takes his coat once more Then slowly walks toward the door A little child looks up and says "Will you be back on Christmas Day?" He turns around, then shakes his head "Hopefully not." And off he went. [Melodic Guitar Harmony] [Guitar Solo – dark Christmas melody, soaring twin guitars] [Bridge – slower, emotional] There are nights when even shadows rest When heavy hearts can leave their weight When every soul beneath the snow Gets one more night before they go So let the candles burn until dawn Let the bells keep ringing on Tonight no names are carved in stone Tonight the Reaper walks alone [Build – galloping guitars] [Final Chorus] CAN YOU HEAR THE REAPER'S BELLS? CHRISTMAS TIME HAS COME AGAIN RINGING THROUGH THE FROZEN NIGHT UNDER STARS OF SILVER WHITE Raise your glass and hold it high Watch the snow fall from the sky Not every bell's a death knell tonight Even the Reaper needs Christmas light CAN YOU HEAR THE REAPER'S BELLS? HEAR THEM ECHO THROUGH THE NIGHT ONE MORE YEAR, ONE MORE DECEMBER ONE MORE CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER [Outro – bells and heavy guitar] Ding... Dong... The Reaper's gone. Merry Christmas. See you... Hopefully not too soon. [Final Guitar Hit]
