Back to the Fire

[Intro]
This winter is killer, causin' my blood to run cold
Just like the icicles I can feel crystallize in my soul
I find the numbness a comfort because it's all that I know
If one description could fit me, it'd be "abominable"

[Verse 1]
When I lost my fire (Fire)
The fever to follow was awfully fierce
Freezin' my arctic heart in an armored locker not even Arson could pierce
I got a disease operatin' like a machine
But forgot for what was I geared
I became a robot when the cold dropped sub-zero
Arteries shot full of serum, as I'm tossed into the ring (Ring)
Not one applaud or a cheer
Probably 'cause no audience wanted to watch me face off with a mirror
I had to weaponize Edward Hyde whenever my Doctor Jekyll would not volunteer
Puttin' me on both sides of the conflict
Either way, all of us profit tears
Not every hero keeps so clean-cut, no Cap' (Cap'), I'm better off with a beard
Stark is the contract in-between us
Here comes a trigger warning, cover your ears
Lookin' like a storm on the forecast
Not sure that's really what I wanted to hear
With a civil war on my doorstep
It's a little late for any Paul to Revere, hollerin' "Winter isn't comin'" (Comin')
Winter is already here (Here)
The weather from which I've been running is nigh, the sky no longer so clear
My past caught up with me, knocked me off of the wagon onto my rear
How can I trust the function of my compass when it was corrupted with fear?
What have I lost? Nothin' but years (Years)
What did it cost? All that was dear
Which I thought would've cleared my conscience
It did not, it just disappeared
Like a wolf runnin' from his hunger when a more cunning hunter is near (Near)
'Cause a bark and a bite will not win a fight if you're not holdin' onto a spear (Spear)

[Pre-Chorus]
Which one am I becomin'?
I caught the cold because—

[Chorus]
The winter's been so long (So long)
I got no spark left in my lighter
Now I feel nothin', but I need somethin' to guide me back to the fire
'Cause if a man can't change his stars (Stars)
He can damn sure change his stripes (Stripes)
When nightfall paints the world all black and white
Bring the fire back to life (To life, to life, to life)

[Verse 2]
Sleeper agent, reawakened
When his peaceful dream is shakin'
Free of reason, fleeting patience
Seething anger, feeding hatred
Seekin' to find the wrong and the right (Wrong and the right)
Sweepin' the leg is part of the fight (Fight)
I've become a hostage of the monster inside me, I'm just along for the ride
Thought I was dead, forgotten behind?
Fallen, left in the gutter to die?
Dropped my guard and I got disarmed
Southpaw now, but I'll knock out your lights
Take off my face, put on a disguise
I don't wear capes, I'm wanted for crimes
You do this all day, I run it all night
Gone is the winter, but not in my mind
Split in half, which half is talkin'?
I could be set off any second, watch it
Shatter your defenses, shed that shield you brought or get sent back home on it
Matters not if I happen to want it
I'm on this path and I have to walk it
Navigating while divided pilots fight to drive my mental cockpit
It's an unholy road ahead
But I'm already damned, I've broken bread
With both of the devils on my shoulders growin' heavy with the sins I won't confess
So sever regret, it's said and done (Done)
But remember to dread what's yet to come
Forever, the steps I take will set the pace that my amends are meant to run
Better protect your wings, I was left with none
When I flew too high and they met the sun
Fell from cloud nine into Hell's ninth circle, a permanent resident
I've become another one of them fallen angels, all of our halos broken
We share despair, save your prayers
God ain't savin' no one (No one)

[Pre-Chorus]
This soulless soldier has only been shown the coldest shoulders (Coldest shoulders)
I'll go unthanked for my service, I'm takin' no more orders (No more orders)
Had enough of playin' dead, now Rover's sick of rollin' over (Over)
Still some tricks to be taught even if the dog is older

[Chorus]
The winter's been so long (So long)
I got no spark left in my lighter
Now I feel nothin', but I need somethin' to guide me back to the fire
'Cause if a man can't change his stars (Stars)
He can damn sure change his stripes (Stripes)
When nightfall paints the world all black and white
Bring the fire back to life (To life—)

[Bridge]
Two wolves are battling inside us all
So who will answer when the wild calls?
The one you feed won't need a fire
While the one denied is hungrier
Becoming a survivor cryin' "Fuck it all"
Wanna see my dirty laundry aired out?
Nothin' left to hide, I might as well let my hair down
The match is set, yet there's nothin' to strike (Strike)
I guess the past is all I got left to right (Got left to right, got left to—)

[Chorus]
The winter's been so long (So long)
I got no spark left in my lighter
Now I feel nothin', but I need somethin' to guide me back to the fire
'Cause if a man can't change his stars (Stars)
He can damn sure change his stripes (Stripes)
When nightfall paints the world all black and white
Bring the fire back to life (To life, to life—)

[Outro]
I thought my pain was being denied
With the shame of my scars
Now I know they're changin' my stripes
Might change the stars