Black Rose

Somehow i always knew

It would end up this way

I tried to warn them

But they just turned their heads the other way

When greed and power take control

One man cannot speak his piece

Yet it only takes one hand

To bring all to a blackened halt.

In the filth and despair far beneath

Where i have only to answer myself

No longer is there any beauty

My memories slowly decay.

Above i hear the screams of those

Who're slowly dying but they chose

To remain and give up the teachings

Their fathers burdened for years.

When i sleep i see a dream

The shadow of a rose burned to the earth

For i grow old and the lines on my face

Bare the history of this hell.

My breath grows short as i return

And pray that someone will remember

My flesh and bones turn to dust

And sacrifice myself to the world

To belong to the world.

Here come the mob

Riding out of the sunset in their horses of steel

Terrorizing the cities

And bringing torture to those who still feel

Raping and stealing

Taking it out on the old and weak

Blame it on blasphemy and foolish bigotry

When man contradicts his own sorry lies.

Living in the shadows

Of the nuclear dawn the punks begin to fight

With chains and armor

They attack the streets to live another night

They kill for drink

The tomorrow's gold is scarce among this barren wasteland.

Even the tears

Are scarce among the atomic generation.

These are the laws of the children in fear

And a scarred memory of those who picked

The petals of the black rose

A condemned confirmation

For the fool a revelation

In the end i will see heaven's gate

Open for me.