Can't Look Away

(album: King Amongst Many - 2013)

We start at the end
With the dull echo of the very last steps of a man condemned
He spent his last night in a cell with a prayer on his lips like a sad lament
Unsure if anybody heard him murmur what he said
But he hopes somebody was listening as he asked to repent
Dishonoured guest in the death day suit they gave him
Doesn't fit but still they made him
Wear it while they prepared him for this solemn occasion
As ashamed as he is of the sins he's committed
It still hurts to admit that he's been forsaken in final paces on his way to meet his maker
Now he takes centre stage to a standing ovation
Tall shadows make patterns in the torch light
On the crowds angry faces
Crying out to be entertained
Now they're calling for his blood
Looking down on he who's been judged
That they can feel that they're above
Now he feels the cold embrace, of the noose around his neck
Looks to the clouds hanging over his head
And they watch his body drop hats on hearts or at least over their chest
In a strange mark of respect, like he's already dead
We start at the end

Let it ring from the steps of the courthouse
Verdicts been brought down
These are the people we were warned 'bout
Look away, no I can't look away
No I can't look away, no I can't look away
Let it splash in the headlines, praised or demonised
It's up to us, we will be the ones who will decide
Look away, no I can't look away
No I can't look away, no I can't look away

We start at the end
No details spared as it's shared inside of a ten page spread
Whether to be for or against
Well I guess that it all depends
Better not make it too complex
Let us be united in our contempt
Heroes and villains, perps and victims
Given to us to assess
Special ops raided compound
Chopper takes off
Bodies drop in the dead of night
We decide what real and what's made up
When we wake up to read the headlines
See it printed in ink wet like fresh blood on the page
A notice posted to the whole world that this is the judgment we made
Becoming of age
And I'm much the same there's so many others out there
In the global village we live in and this right here is the new town square
I can't pretend that I'm above it cause I can't look away
Like the rest, shaking my head
Cause we ain't past this yet

Let it ring from the steps of the courthouse
Verdicts been brought down
These are the people we were warned 'bout
Look away, no I can't look away
No I can't look away, no I can't look away
Let it splash in the headlines, praised or demonised
It's up to us, we will be the ones who will decide
Look away, no I can't look away
No I can't look away, no I can't look away
Let it ring from the steps of the courthouse
Verdicts been brought down
These are the people we were warned 'bout
Look away, no I can't look away
No I can't look away, no I can't look away
Let it splash in the headlines, praised or demonised
It's up to us, we will be the ones who will decide
Look away, no I can't look away
No I can't look away, no I can't look away