The Emperor’s Plight

"Let's see where our King's at nowadays, shall we?"

[Intro: Signor Benedick the Moor]
Thirty years ago I raised a glass. And at that moment I knew that I would never be poor, I would never be afraid, and I would never be at the bottom. And look at me! No one is ever going to take that from me!

[Verse 1: Signor Benedick the Moor]
Stand in front of these men, all I see is lies
The truth is always subjective, seen different by different eyes;
Maybe I used to believe it, but now I’ve seen what it’s like
So long atop my own tower, the ground is never in sight
They call it the emperor’s plight, but I’m pretty sure this is more
It’s not that I’m lonely- I just don’t want to live here anymore
At least not with these hands, this face, or these thoughts in my head;
I’m certain yes surely it would end if only I were dead

[Chorus: Signor Benedick the Moor]
And if I didn't do the things I did
I would still be little Milo, my mother’s sniveling kid
Crying home when my frog was no more than a skid on the pavement
Hot in July all day his grave I would dig
And if I didn’t do the things I did
I would probably still be the Milo jealous of other kids
Who only dreamt about monsters, who woke up quick if they did
But Milo never woke up, never once did I close my lids

[Verse 2: Signor Benedick the Moor]
I’m sorry, but I’ve come to a conclusion
And I don’t mean that I’ve decided, but my soul is one big contusion
I never believed in mistakes, but maybe that was a delusion
Decisions all from the past but I never now could excuse them
Follow me to Hades and I won’t be scared
How many of your peers’ Fathers came into this world prepared?
I’m calling upon the stars stained all red like my hands
Unable to come to terms with all of destiny’s demands

[Chorus: Signor Benedick the Moor]
But if I didn’t do the things I did
I would probably still be the Milo she saw when we were kids
Chasing geese in the park and trying to get her down
A coat that could really hold her, I’d save her if she could drown
But if I didn’t do the things I did
I would still be little Milo, my mother’s innocent kid
Crying home when my frog was no more than a skid on the pavement
Hot in July all day his grave I would dig

[Interlude]
As he looked down at the rocks below him, there was no moon above him. The water below was not pretty, just black, like the tar that had taken the lives of his prehistoric kings before him

[Verse 3: Signor Benedick the Moor]
Give me the crown, give me the crown!
Now you know my grip is iron!
Never letting go, couldn’t take it if you a siren
Murder? Murder!
I thought I told you I’d do anything
Any scheme, any penniless petty peasant ain’t nothing to me
She said “You’re going to be a father!”
All I did was treat the kid like he’s a god damned bother
But it always had to be this way
Laying with the beasts I slay

“Hello mother, pleased to see you.”

[Verse 4: Signor Benedick the Moor]
Little man atop the tower
Always looking down
Screams of terror but he never hears the sound
Create a barrier protected by the crown
Swore he’d never cry again, and now he owns the fucking town
Give her the down, give her the down!
If she want it then she get it
Knew where he was going, but out of her love she let it
Standing on the edge of his tower now he regret it
When I saw him at the gates I asked him why he’s so pathetic