we encourage them
to carry on
as though the party
isn't over and everyone
that matters hasn't
already gone

this music pleases me
it has the riffs
heavy bass and thundering drums
a singer whose voice
sounds like gravel and ice

but it doesn't excite me
there is plenty but not enough
there is emotion but stunted
there is noise but too controlled
I want them to hear them play
like no one is watching

winter's melancholy cold
as we fry in Satanic heat
a Hell of our own making

we cut the earth and made her bleed
for greed and war and hate and waste

a glimmer to a glow
then only embers
to remind us
of a fire that once
raged

a thousand extras
for a cast of one
and I among them

world shrunk to four walls
an armchair and tv set
have you seen mum
seven years gone
waiting

he held the knife
blade bright as the sun
with an edge
as dark as night
it's anger swallowing light

cold as a dead man's finger

meeting flesh to the bone
again and again
until rivers ran
where none should flow
his victim cold
as a dead man's finger

the scene set
for the guys from forensics
to take their pictures
make measurements
of blood spatter
then pack up the mess

cold as a dead man's finger

to the victor the spoils
mobile phone and some cash
living to make future chaos
he lies on his bed
staring at a blank ceiling
no feeling

cold as a dead man's finger

I am old
my mind forgotten
bury me
in a soul shaped coffin

I am silent
my words unspoken
bury me
in a soul shaped coffin

I am still
my muscles wasting
bury me
in a soul shaped coffin

I exist in twilight
leaves have fallen
naked and cold
winter approaching
my dance is over
a tune stopped playing
my silence filled
with children laughing

my last act
a final curtain
bury me
in a soul shaped coffin