Changing of the Guards

16 years 16 banners united over the field Where the good shepherd grieves Desperate men, desperate women divided Spreading their wings 'neath falling leaves Fortune calls I stepped forth from the shadows to the marketplace Merchants and thieves hungry for power, my last deal gone down She's smelling sweet like the meadows where she was born On midsummer's Eve near the tower The cold-blooded moon The captain waits above the celebration Sending his thoughts to a beloved maid Whose ebony face is beyond communication The captain is down, but still believes in that his love will be repaid They shaved her head She was torn between Jupiter and Apollo A messenger arrived with a black nightingale I've seen her on the stairs and I could not help but follow Follow her down past the fountain where they lifted her veil I stumbled to my feet I rode past destruction in the ditches With the stitches still mending 'neath, a heart-shaped tattoo Renegade priests and treacherous young witches Were handing out the flowers that I'd given to you The palace of mirrors Where dog soldiers are reflected The endless road and the wailing of chimes The empty rooms where her memory is protected Where the angel's voices whisper to the souls of previous times She wakes him up 48 hours later, the sun is breaking Near broken chains, mountain laurel, and rolling rocks She's begging to know what measures now he will be taking He's pulling her down, and she's clutching onto his long golden locks Gentlemen, he said, "I don't need your organization, I've shined your shoes" I've moved your mountains and marked your cards But Eden is burning, either brace yourself for elimination Or else your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards Peace will come With tranquility and splendor on the wheels of fire But will bring us no reward when her false idols fall And cruel death surrenders with its pale ghost retreating Between the king and the queen of swords