Ashes of the Crown

rock,Grittyalternativerockwithdistortedrhythmguitarsandajagged,octave-drivenleadline.Malevocalsstarttenseandlowintheverses,thenripopengrittyandanthemicinthechorus.Drumsstompwithtom-heavypatterns,openingintowide,crashingcymbalsonthehook.Bassgrowlsandmovesmelodically.Bridgestripstovoiceandbassbeforeafull-band,shout-alongfinalchorus.

[Verse 1]
You draw the line in the backyard dirt
Plastic flags on a rusted fence
Granddad’s medals in a kitchen drawer
Say
“Pick a side
It’s self-defense”

You stream the war on a greasy phone
Scroll past faces you’ll never meet
Mute the sound
Keep chewing slow
Call it tragic
Then you fall asleep

[Chorus]
Are we saints
Are we savage
Ashes of the crown we carry
Every hand can heal or break
Which world do we wanna wake
Raise your voice or bite your tongue
Every tyrant was someone’s son
Are we saints
Are we savage
Ashes of the crown we carry (hey!)

[Verse 2]
Preacher’s shouting in a parking lot
“Every sinner gonna pay in fire”
Kid with headphones
Eyes on shoes
Mouths the words but he’s not sure he buys it

Judge in black with a shaking hand
Signs a life into a concrete box
Whispers
“God
I hope I’m right”
Stares too long at the ticking clock

[Chorus]
Are we saints
Are we savage
Ashes of the crown we carry
Every hand can heal or break
Which world do we wanna wake
Raise your voice or bite your tongue
Every tyrant was someone’s son
Are we saints
Are we savage
Ashes of the crown we carry

[Bridge]
If I push back
Am I holy
If I stand still
Am I clean
If I burn it all for justice
Do I burn the in-between

[Chorus]
Are we saints
Are we savage
Ashes of the crown we carry
Every hand can heal or break
Which world do we wanna wake
Raise your voice
Don’t die so young
Every tyrant was someone’s son
Are we saints
Are we savage
Ashes of the crown we carry (oh)
Ashes of the crown we carry