Concrete Kingdom

Marble mouths sell mercy by the ounce Blue coats bloom where the

river runs brown Paper crowns nod over velvet files Gold teeth grin

in the courthouse aisles I keep my breath light under borrowed rain

Cards in my sleeve,

salt in my name (ooh)

Statues drink from a silver cup Every door asks what you can

give up Sirens braid the rain into wire Still I dance near

the little fire (ahhhh) If the throne is made of dust Let

it turn beneath us Hearts are dice in a velvet cup

Lose a little, laugh it up

(ooh, ooh)

Uniform stars fall into black tea Generals trade maps for a velvet

key Judges weigh feathers against a stone Saints with red lips count

money alone Cargo moves quiet through the harbor teeth I smile like

smoke and keep the ace beneath (ooh)

The board is old,

the pieces shine A crooked moon drinks bitter wine

I fold my fear into a grin Spin the wheel and breathe

again (ahhhh)

If the throne is made of dust Let it turn beneath us

Hearts are dice in a velvet cup Lose a little,

laugh it up We pass the wolves in borrowed gold Still keep

a spark they never hold (ooh, ooh)

Silver gates fade into rain

I leave the table smiling (ooh)