Godfather Death

THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
My mother had no bread to break
No saint or angel for my sake
She asked the Devil — he was cruel
She asked the Lord — he played the fool
But Death came walking, pale and fair
With honest eyes and silver hair
I play no favorites, rich or poor
Every soul must cross my door

[Pre-Chorus]
So mother gave me to the cold
And I was blessed as I was sold

[Chorus]
I see the candles, row on row
Ten thousand flames that flicker low
Death stands at the head or feet
To tell me who he'll come to meet
Godfather taught me well to read
Which lyves to save, which ones to bleed

[Verse 2]
They called me healer, called me saint
Lined up with every last complaint
I only had to check the bed
If Death stood at the feet
Kings paid gold to hear me speak
Peasants walked for half a week
I never lied, I never guessed
I simply read where Death had blessed

[Pre-Chorus]
But every gift has got its thorn
Hidden since the day you're born

[Chorus]
I see the candles, row on row
Ten thousand flames that flicker low
Death stands at the head or feet
To tell me who he'll come to meet
Godfather taught me well to read
Which lyves to save, which ones to bleed

[Bridge]
Then my husband came burning with the fever
Eyes like hymns that made me a believer
Death was standing at his crown
I knew that he would take him down

So I spun the bed around
Head to feet and feet to ground
Cheated Death to save his face
And felt the cavern shift in place

[Verse 3]
He took me down below the earth
To where the candles mark each birth
A thousand halls of guttering light
Each flame a life, each shadow a night

"Find yours," He said, and so I walked
Past rivers where the dying talked
And there — a stub of melting wax
My life reduced to one last act

[Pre-Chorus]
"Godfather, please, I'll not betray—"
He shook his head and looked away

[Chorus]
I see the candles, row on row
Ten thousand flames that flicker low
Mine is smallest, burning blue
A thumbnail's worth of living through
Godfather taught me everything
Except how to outlast the sting

[Final Chorus]
The candles flicker, row on row
And one by one they all burn low
Death plays no favorites, rich or poor
He told me this right from his door
I read the beds, I saved the ill
But couldn't read my own last chill

[Outro]
Somewhere in the cavern deep
A candle barely wakes from sleep
It sputters once and holds its thread
The way a daughter holds the dead
If Death is fair as Death has sworn
Then let me burn until the morn
One flame more — just one flame more
Then I'll walk through Godfather's door