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Spoken version
A recorded reading of “Velvet Churches & Violent Hearts”. If the player does not load, use the original audio source.
I wear the city like a stole— Velvet heft, moth-bit holes. Every alley learned my part: Violent vows, tender art. Choir of engines, organ rain; Tag me sinner, call it sane. Velvet churches, violent hearts— Kiss like knives then fall apart; Bless the bruise and strike the spark— Velvet churches, violent hearts. All my saints are barroom blue; All my sermons end in you. If there’s heaven in this town, It’s shuttered stalls and kneeling sound. Raise the glass; receive the mark. Find me under sirens’ bark. Velvet churches, violent hearts— Kiss like knives then fall apart; Bless the bruise and strike the spark— Velvet churches, violent hearts. Hold me. Holy. Street-sweeper passes, comet slow; Roller doors rattle, taking snow. Our names burn out on the marquee stars— Then drift—as ticket stubs from cars.
Instructional lyrics
[**Verse 1**] I wear the city like a stole Velvet weight and bullet holes Every alley learned my part Violent vows and tender art [Pre rise, choir pad swell] [Pre tension, snare on 2/4] [Pre bloom pad] [**Pre-Chorus** ] Choir of engines, organ rain Name me sinner, call it sane [Chorus wide, tambourine last repeat] [Chorus octave bass, low BVs] [**Chorus** ] Velvet churches, violent hearts Kiss like knives then fall apart Bless the bruise and light the spark Velvet churches, violent hearts [**Verse 2**] All my saints are barroom blue All my sermons end in you If there’s heaven in this town It’s where we break and still bow down [Pre rise, choir pad swell] [Pre tension, snare on 2/4] [Pre bloom pad] [**Pre-Chorus** ] Raise the glass, receive the mark Find me waiting in the dark [Chorus wide, tambourine last repeat] [Chorus octave bass, low BVs] [**Chorus** ] Velvet churches, violent hearts Kiss like knives then fall apart Bless the bruise and light the spark Velvet churches, violent hearts [**Bridge (Lift to D minor)** ] Hold me Holy [**Final Chorus (D minor, gang‑chant)** ] Velvet churches, violent hearts All our damage turned to art Write our names in neon stars Velvet churches, violent hearts
Song info
Anthemic finale, gothic post‑punk. Commonwealth noir lexicon (harbour cranes, pavement). Baritone lead, gang‑chant outro. Tempo 104 BPM, key C minor → modulate to D minor for final chorus. Motifs reprise, organ pads, tom procession, jangle counter‑melodies. Slap/plate verbs. Structure: Intro (motif medley) → Verse → Pre → Chorus → Verse → Pre → Chorus → Bridge (lift/modulation) → Final Chorus (gang‑chant) → Outro. Hook: “Velvet churches, violent hearts.” Mood: grand, elegiac, cathartic.
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