Midnight Visitor

[Intro] (Instrumental: Slow, dissonant strings mimicking wind, low ominous drone, faint, distant groaning begins, a single, heavy *THUD* like a knock echoes) [Verse 1] The embers fade, the clock strikes twelve On Christmas Eve, the old man delves Into his chair, a weary sleep While shadows through the windows creep A fragile peace, a stolen rest Before the knocking puts to test His fragile nerves, his aging heart A sudden, jarring, fearful start! [Chorus] *Knock... Knock... Knock...* (Half-past the hour!) A sound that saps all peaceful power! *Knock... Knock... Knock...* (The dread takes hold!) A story chilling to be told! *Knock... Knock... Knock...* (Through midnight deep!) Denying solace, stealing sleep! *Knock... Knock... Knock...* (A frozen dread!) Is pounding deep inside his head! [Verse 2] He stumbles forth, the latch undone But finds the porch... and finds... no one! Just biting cold and swirling snow Where did the phantom knocker go? Back to his chair, his body aches The silence now his spirit breaks He waits... he listens... strains to hear... A creeping, crawling, ghastly fear! [Bridge] A sound arises, low and deep Before the knock disturbs his sleep! Not jingle bells, a merry sound But guttural groans from frozen ground! A moaning... sighing... wretched plea... Or threat? What can this horror be? It swells and fades, a mournful knell... Then... silence... followed by... the... *Knell!* [Chorus] *Knock... Knock... Knock...* (Half-past the hour!) A sound that saps all peaceful power! *Knock... Knock... Knock...* (The dread takes hold!) A story chilling to be told! *Knock... Knock... Knock...* (Through midnight deep!) Denying solace, stealing sleep! *Knock... Knock... Knock...* (A frozen dread!) Is pounding deep inside his head! [Verse 3] Again! Again! The pattern holds! A tale of terror to unfold! Each half-hour chime, a dreadful call The groaning first, then knock the wall! His courage frays, his mind grows weak The answers that he dare not seek! But terror builds, a rising wave... He *must* know who disturbs his grave... (of sleep) [Bridge] The final knock! He cannot bear! To face the horror waiting there! With trembling hand, on shaking knee He turns the lock... what will he see? He flings the door wide to the storm... Defying fear, though frail and worn... [Outro] (Instrumental swells dissonantly, then cuts abruptly to near silence. A single, choked, high-pitched note from the singer, like a stifled scream of pure terror, hangs in the air before fading into the returning low drone and wind sounds. Silence.)