The Ritual (feat. Merle Dandridge & Laura Bailey)

We let them rise

We let it happen

We waited far too long

We thought we shouldn’t intervene

We were wrong

We were wrong

Since the beginning we were hidden

We held court from up above

T’was the Golden age of reason

And I, the Queen of Love

But a plague of hate was spreading

And there were vultures standing by

Before we fell to our knees begging

We fell from the sky

We let them rise

We let it happen

We waited far too long

We thought we shouldn’t intervene

We were wrong

We were wrong

Our so-called brother, Ares

Sold his soul forevermore

For he so loved the military

He became their dog of war

He denounced his loving family

And with mortal guns and greed

On a plate gladly delivered

Everything that war dogs need

He betrayed us and we let him

With their mortal souls long gone

We thought we were untouchable

We were wrong

We were wrong

I can feel we have the vigor

Of an idol coming in

Be wary as they’ll find you too

And tear you limb from limb

Torture you and spit at you

Parade you in a square

I thought my life was over

Then a God answered my prayer

The man that I ignored

Saved me when I fell

Yes, the husband I abhorred

Rescued me from hell

I thought it was a joke when it was said to me

He struck a deal with our enemy’s enemy

Made a secret weapon, so my captors let me go

He gave up his freedom leaving just a memory

And this love I’ll never know is what he gave to me

I can see everything

It’s interesting

Why you feel so blue

Because of the horror show

From long ago

There ain’t no getting through

A husband who sacrificed

And paid the price for you to be free

Wherever he is right now

You’d think somehow that—

Excuse me?

Sorry, I’m on a roll.

I don’t pretend to know the mind of a god

That’s something I never thought I’d say

I’m not the only one here who wants to know

Is leaving now the only way to go?

Oh my God

Here we go

Another crow out on the fence

Squawking, quibbling

Oh, how I loathe such innocence

Behold, the mind of a child

Let’s not laugh or ridicule the girl

This ritual is a tradition now, you know

Embrace it

It’s the only way to go

Don’t you write anything down?

Is there a statue of Hephestus in town?

Or is history just a record

That slowly gathers dust

You’ve got to turn it up loud

So the player doesn’t rust

Because I find this story so unique

I’ll sing in plain-speak

Your rest leaves the rest of your family stressed and depressed

They repress, so will only digress

I’m impressed by the sense of occasion, I guess,

But this mess of a quest to possess is grotesque

It’s happened to me and I’ll never know

When Calliope inside of me surfaces

So, I request that your guests reassess the process

And unless you address all this godly excess

We’ll continue to guess while you repossess

And I won’t acquiesce till a change manifests

I’m out....

Sometimes taking a breath’s the only way to go

Considering the options left, it's the only way to go

What is the only way to go?

I’m stunned (Aphrodite)

By the arrogance (You’re mighty)

But eloquence sparks something in me

If you honestly (If you proceed)

Can promise me (We guarantee)

All the help you need

I’ll be the kind of a god (You’ll be the kind of a god)

You’ll worship and adore like before

Thank you, Venus

A brilliant cameo

And together we will face it

Because forgetting won’t erase it

Moving on’s the only way to go

The only way to go