The Brass Key

Lyrics

[Verse 1] You left a brass key in the atlas spine Beside the coast where the ink runs dry At supper, every chair faced north And nobody asked what the locked door was for [Pre-Chorus] Three knocks answered from below A folded page passed hand to hand You said the oath was only old words Then traced the mark across my palm [Chorus] We keep the names beneath the stone We meet where the river bends alone If you have found the second door You know what silence is for [Verse 2] A candle burned in the courthouse clock The judge wore gloves though the room was warm You poured the tea, then turned the cup So its painted crest was facing down [Pre-Chorus] Three knocks answered from below A folded page passed hand to hand You said the oath was only old words Then traced the mark across my palm [Chorus] We keep the names beneath the stone We meet where the river bends alone If you have found the second door You know what silence is for [Bridge] No crown, no flag, no witness list Just one red thread around the wrist You can leave the circle when you choose But keep the key; the lock knows you [Instrumental] [Final Chorus] We keep the names beneath the stone We meet where the river bends alone If you have found the second door You know what silence is for [Outro] The brass key sleeps inside the atlas The river keeps the rest