Wickerman -

O' I had just simmered and fumed!

My heyday was trimmed and was pruned

T’was soiled with the mulch of remorse

I replayed this hundreds of times in my head

And I searched for a fault or a blunder or curse to blame

-No such miscue occurred

It was my cross to bear

And I walked with that cross on my back

My bridle and patience wore off

I’d not sink in and wait for a door

I had to get out—had to flee from the scrawl in my head!

All these starving flames inching onto me can’t be stomped out now

And you’d never let go

We’re hanging from the edge

Swaying riotous

While candles burn away at my straw, wicker hands

O' the fall’s so far down!

From the brim of my hell, I had glimpsed an escape

So I played a few hands, and I learned a few tricks

And from ‘cross the bridge, such glowering facets turned

It seemed luck’s key had found its hole

And with such merry comes great sorrow

…On and on those candles burned

This windfall would never wear off!

With a verve, I made way toward the floor

Fate threw me the dice

And I staked such a price—that I did

One more game—one more chance to reclaim my crown!

All these starving flames inching onto me can’t be stomped out now

And you’d never let go

We’re hanging from the edge

Swaying riotous

While candles burn away at my straw, wicker hands

O' the fall’s so far down!

Then a darkness veiled the scene

And spelled me to walk the flames

To roll and wonder—always wondering!

If time rewound itself, I’d kick myself to leave

This was defeat

Before I even hit the ground, I knew that I was smoke

A fuse made of greed had fasted into me

And it had stitched up my retreat

And I had been given one chance…

Bet you’ll never see me again as I burn it all away

I had betrayed me

I didn’t know if I should fight or run or beg for mercy

I knew for sure that all my common sense had turned to ash

Across from me, a dozen eyes reflected malcontent

So I stood up tall to point and aim the gun between his eyes

I couldn’t figure what I felt inside, it buzzed and pressured

Like being stabbed in the gut, and in the heat I cried

«Get on your knees and beg me not to kill you and your family

Down on your knees, you pray to God that I don’t change my mind!»

‘Cause inside, there’s a gun that’s loaded

And that gun’s always itching to be fired

I had my finger on it—I had my finger on it to pull the trigger

-Problem solved and walk out pure as wine

Had I learned to bite the bullet…

Had I known my place in line…

I had my finger on it—I had my finger on it

And then I pulled it

I was charred enough to change my mind