The Ritual

[APHRODITE, spoken]
We let them rise
We let it happen
We waited far too long
We thought we shouldn't intervene
We were wrong
We were wrong

(sung)
Since the beginning we were hidden
We held court from up above
T'was the golden age of reason
And I, the Queen of Love

But a plague of hate was spreading
And there werе vultures standing by
Before wе fell to our knees begging
We fell from the sky

We let them rise
We let it happen
We waited far too long
We thought we shouldn't intervene
We were wrong
We were wrong

Our so-called brother Ares
Sold his soul forever more
He so loved the military
He became their Dog of War
He denounced his loving family
And with mortal guns and greed
On a plate gladly delivered
Everything that war-dogs need

He betrayed us and we let him
With their mortal souls long gone
We thought we were untouchable
We were wrong, we were wrong

I can feel we have the vigor of an Idol coming in
Be wary as they find you too and tear you limb from limb
Torture you and spit at you, parade you in a square
I thought my life was over
Then a god answered my prayer

The man that I ignored saved me when I fell
Yes, the husband I abhorred rescued me from hell
I thought it was a joke when it was said to me
He struck a deal with our enemy's enemy
Made a secret weapon so my captors let me go
He gave up his freedom, leaving just a memory
And this love I'll never know is what he gave to me

[GRACE]
I can see everything
It's interesting, why you feel so blue
Because of the horror show from long ago
There ain't no getting through
A husband who sacrificed
And paid the price for you to be free
Wherever he is right now, you'd think somehow--

[APHRODITE, spoken]
Ahem, Excuse me?

[GRACE, spoken]
Sorry, I'm on a roll

(sung)
I don't pretend to know the mind of a god
That's something I never thought I'd say
I'm not the only one here who wants to know
Is the leaving now the only way to go?

[APHRODITE]
Oh my God, here we go, another crow out on the fence
Squawking, quibbling, oh how I loath such innocence
Behold the mind of a child!
Let's not laugh or ridicule the girl
This ritual is a tradition now, you know
Embrace it, it's the only way to go

[GRACE]
Don't you write anything down?
Is there a statue of Hephaestus in town?
Or is history just a record that slowly gathers dust?
You gotta turn it up loud so the player doesn't rust
Because I find the story so unique
Hm, I'll sing in plain speak

Your rest leaves the rest of your family stressed and depressed
They repress so we'll only digress
I'm impressed by the sense of occastion, I guess
But this mess of a quest to possess is grotesque
It's happened to me and I'll never know
When Calliope inside of me surfaces, so
I request that your guests reassess the process
And unless you address all this godly excess
We'll continue to guess while you re-possess
And I won't acquiesce 'til a change manifests

I'm out
Sometimes taking a breath's the only way to go
Considering the options left, it's the only way to go
What is the only way to go?

[APRHODITE & GRACE]
I'm stunned by the arrogance
(Aphrodite, you're mighty)
But eloquence sparks something in me
If you honestyly can promise me all the help I need
(If you proceed, we guarantee all the help you need)
I'll be the kind of a god... (You'll be the kind of a god...)

You'll worship and adore like before
Thank you Venus, a brilliant cameo

[GRACE]
And together we will face it
'Cause forgetting won't erase it

[GRACE & APHRODITE]
Moving on's the only way to go
The only way to go