(slack tuning)
I wrote the verses on the way to an in-town Ridgely gig on Jan. 31, 1997 (this time I pulled off the road so I could write and not endanger anyone) and wrapped up the chorus on Aug. 27 of the same year.

A devil of a song. Took 7 months to write and it’ll take a lifetime to learn.

I know your secrets and I’ve been alone
I’ve seen you on the rooftop of a vagabond’s home
you wail and you whisper to the soft side of my head
you laugh when you snare me then you leave me for dead

the rail and the rattle of fingerless hands
pretending to be Gods but with an earthly plan
I peep through the portal to see that I might
I should have learned better from the first time that you lied

I couldn’t stay , I wouldn’t go
I didn’t dare tell you so
a fear of lambs, a fear of heights
afraid to look at your sacrifice
I took my eyes off you

so since you’ve been beaten the game is afoot
you hide in my closet and tempt me to look
I’ve been hiding out in trenches one lie too long
cinch down my belt and sharpen the sword

you talk like the dealer of shards and remains
when all you’re really selling is a life locked in chains
while you feed off my weaknesses does it bother your soul
to know you can’t own me once the fire has grown cold
to know you won’t own me once the fire has grown cold

I couldn’t stay , I wouldn’t go
I didn’t dare tell you so
a fear of lambs, a fear of heights
afraid to look at your sacrifice
I took my eyes off you