Hemlock Ambrosia
written by: Jak Locke
written by: Jak Locke
version 1:
from All Our Sunlight Scattered (December 16th 2002) (3:36)
Garbed in masochistic robes and blankets
A wooden giant reaching for the phoenix
The mirror pounding dirges on my eardrums
Solitude asking me for one more fix
Condemning Dante, Sophocles is lounging
Absently scrawling the Guernica
Renoir is drinking blood out in the parlor
To spew it on my work when it is done
Ah, mystery so tempting and misery so fair
To see ecstasy and agony in the locks of your hair
That screaming in the distance, it's just my conscience as it dies
Hell and heaven do exist if only in your eyes
Now visiting from eras past, the phantoms
Of demons that I tire to exorcise
Armed with failing lantern in the darkness
And gripping tight the phoenix as she cries
Ah, dearest makes her poison taste delightful
She barely even knows about her craft
The guilt is mine, she just provides the recipe
And with Socratic smile, I down my draft
Ah, mystery so tempting and misery so fair
To see ecstasy and agony in the locks of your hair
That screaming in the distance, it's just my conscience as it dies
Hell and heaven do exist if only in your eyes
In this bizarre kaleidoscope of figures
That coalesce and vanish without pause
Of single-minded Furies in the alleys
That exist just to rake me with their claws
Of mutilated banshees flying low down
And sirens wishing only for my blood
Ah, angel all I ask of you is one wish
Don't fly by lest I perish in the flood
Ah, mystery so tempting and misery so fair
To see ecstasy and agony in the locks of your hair
That screaming in the distance, it's just my conscience as it dies
Hell and heaven do exist if only in your eyes
A wooden giant reaching for the phoenix
The mirror pounding dirges on my eardrums
Solitude asking me for one more fix
Condemning Dante, Sophocles is lounging
Absently scrawling the Guernica
Renoir is drinking blood out in the parlor
To spew it on my work when it is done
Ah, mystery so tempting and misery so fair
To see ecstasy and agony in the locks of your hair
That screaming in the distance, it's just my conscience as it dies
Hell and heaven do exist if only in your eyes
Now visiting from eras past, the phantoms
Of demons that I tire to exorcise
Armed with failing lantern in the darkness
And gripping tight the phoenix as she cries
Ah, dearest makes her poison taste delightful
She barely even knows about her craft
The guilt is mine, she just provides the recipe
And with Socratic smile, I down my draft
Ah, mystery so tempting and misery so fair
To see ecstasy and agony in the locks of your hair
That screaming in the distance, it's just my conscience as it dies
Hell and heaven do exist if only in your eyes
In this bizarre kaleidoscope of figures
That coalesce and vanish without pause
Of single-minded Furies in the alleys
That exist just to rake me with their claws
Of mutilated banshees flying low down
And sirens wishing only for my blood
Ah, angel all I ask of you is one wish
Don't fly by lest I perish in the flood
Ah, mystery so tempting and misery so fair
To see ecstasy and agony in the locks of your hair
That screaming in the distance, it's just my conscience as it dies
Hell and heaven do exist if only in your eyes
version 2:
from Post-Apocalyptic Hymnal (December 3rd 2008) (3:37)
Garbed in masochistic robes and blankets
A wooden giant reaching for the phoenix
The mirror pounding dirges on my eardrums
Solitude asking me for one more fix
Condemning Dante, Sophocles is lounging
Absently scrawling the Guernica
Renoir is drinking blood out in the parlor
To spew it on my work when it is done
Ah mystery so tempting and misery so fair
To see ecstasy and agony in the locks of your hair
That screaming in the distance
It's just my conscience as it dies
Hell and Heaven do exist if only in your eyes
Now visiting from eras past, the phantoms
Of demons that I tire to exorcise
Armed with a failing lantern in the darkness
And gripping tight the phoenix as she cries
Ah dearest makes her poison taste delightful
Though she barely even knows about her craft
The guilt is mine, she just provides the recipe
And with Socratic smile, I down my draft
Ah mystery so tempting and misery so fair
To see ecstasy and agony in the locks of your hair
That screaming in the distance
It's just my conscience as it dies
Hell and Heaven do exist if only in your eyes
In this bizarre kaleidoscope of figures
That coalesce and vanish without pause
Of singleminded Furies in the alleys
That exist just to rake me with their claws
Of mutilated banshees flying low down
And sirens wishing only for my blood
Ah, angel, all I ask of you is one wish
Don't fly by lest I perish in the flood
Ah mystery so tempting and misery so fair
To see ecstasy and agony in the locks of your hair
That screaming in the distance
It's just my conscience as it dies
Hell and Heaven do exist if only in your eyes
A wooden giant reaching for the phoenix
The mirror pounding dirges on my eardrums
Solitude asking me for one more fix
Condemning Dante, Sophocles is lounging
Absently scrawling the Guernica
Renoir is drinking blood out in the parlor
To spew it on my work when it is done
Ah mystery so tempting and misery so fair
To see ecstasy and agony in the locks of your hair
That screaming in the distance
It's just my conscience as it dies
Hell and Heaven do exist if only in your eyes
Now visiting from eras past, the phantoms
Of demons that I tire to exorcise
Armed with a failing lantern in the darkness
And gripping tight the phoenix as she cries
Ah dearest makes her poison taste delightful
Though she barely even knows about her craft
The guilt is mine, she just provides the recipe
And with Socratic smile, I down my draft
Ah mystery so tempting and misery so fair
To see ecstasy and agony in the locks of your hair
That screaming in the distance
It's just my conscience as it dies
Hell and Heaven do exist if only in your eyes
In this bizarre kaleidoscope of figures
That coalesce and vanish without pause
Of singleminded Furies in the alleys
That exist just to rake me with their claws
Of mutilated banshees flying low down
And sirens wishing only for my blood
Ah, angel, all I ask of you is one wish
Don't fly by lest I perish in the flood
Ah mystery so tempting and misery so fair
To see ecstasy and agony in the locks of your hair
That screaming in the distance
It's just my conscience as it dies
Hell and Heaven do exist if only in your eyes
earliest live performance: February 28th 2004