Five of Swords

Lyrics

Look at the slope of their backs as they walk,
All I did was dismantle the way that they talk.
Now there’s three in my arms and there’s two in the dirt,
They dropped them the second I proved what they're worth.
I didn't raise voices, I didn't yell out,
I just systematically severed the doubt.
I gave them the data, I made it so clear,
And now I am standing alone on the pier.

Oh, I won the room, but I emptied the house.
I’m the king of the quiet, the cat and the mouse.
I gather the steel while they turn to the shore,
And nobody’s arguing here anymore.
Just the jagged torn clouds like a ripped-up receipt,
And the heavy, cold thrill of a total defeat.

They lower their heads to the turbulent surf,
They couldn't defend their own piece of the earth.
I pick up the blades by the leather-bound grips,
Still tasting the absolute fact on my lips.
I catalog every mistake that they made,
Seven-and-a-half pounds of carbon-steel weight.
I am perfectly right, I am brilliantly clean,
My brain is a diamond that cuts through the screen.

The wind off the water is starting to sting.
It costs a great deal to be right about things.
Pattern recognition, the stray little thread—
I mapped out the logic and got in their heads.
I didn't just beat them, I made them agree
That they aren't quite smart enough standing with me.
So they don't.
No, they don't.

I won the room, but I emptied the house.
I’m the king of the quiet, the cat and the mouse.
I gather the steel while they walk to the shore,
And nobody’s arguing here anymore.
Just the jagged torn clouds like a ripped-up receipt,
And the freezing cold chill of a total defeat.

Look at them walking away in the gray.
I have all of the swords.
I have nothing to say.
Just the chop of the water.
Just the wind on the bay.
I won.
I won.