[Intro]
[Verse 1]
(Stammering, trembling)
I… I stand here… in this shop of shadows,
Gh-gh-ghost tales… and satire… (gulps) my trade.
Th-the sign creaks… “Stories… or Lies,”
But my throat… chokes… on the mess I’ve made.
(Struggling, voice cracks)
C-customers… whisper… “Speak, cowardly bard!”
My lips quiver… words crumble… like ash.
A hero’s name… but a… a traitor’s tongue,
I spit… (chokes) at their feet… mid-madness’s c***h…
[Chorus]
(Halting, breathless)
Ohhh… courage wears… a st-st-stutter’s cloak,
In this hall… of mocking… echoes I d***n.
Gh-ghosts jeer… as my voice… breaks the air,
A baritone… trembling… beneath the crown…
[Verse 2]
(Unsteady, gasping)
They… they crave… satire’s bite… or a specter’s wail,
But I… I flinch… at the coins they toss.
My hands shake… as ink… bleeds to page,
A… a man of tales… who’s… hopelessly lost…
(Spitting syllables)
I… I hack… a laugh… (coughs) like a dagger unsung,
Sputter rhymes… through a… a storm of dread.
“Gh-ghost Stories!”… my… my anthem of shame,
Each word… a w*r… fought… in my head…
[Bridge]
(Wavering, near-silent)
The… the legends say… he… he stood… unafraid,
But I… I crumble… where… legends expire.
Satire’s blade… bends… in my… nervous grip,
And the… the ghosts… they… they demand… their liar…
[Outro]