music: Natalie Merchant/lyric: Natalie Merchant ]







wide open falsehood

the clan destine truths

rival till the end

in a series of duels

pardon the drapery language I choose



Waltz in Vienna has taught me to use

every tall room a fiction

leather bound treasure books

up to the ceiling

gold spine upon spine



the guile and the treason

the faith and allegiance



wide open falsehood

the clan destine truths

rival till the end

in a series of duels

pardon the drapery language I choose



the author grew fat to imagine

his lead pen careening

gave voice to the scheming

an Aryan cabale to dethrone



the guile and the treason

the faith and allegiance

to the empire unknown



the baron and his mistress

dine in fine banquet hall

as rebel insurgents plot in

the attic space crawl



wide open falsehood

the clan destine truths

rival till the end

in a series of duels

pardon the drapery language I choose



his small hand did strive

to explain all the

rants and raves of

a people enslaved



by the cant of the shrewdest

capable men



the guile and the treason

the faith and allegiance

now lie in my hand



the guile and the treason

the faith and allegiance

now lie in my hand