for ransom I gave
my crimson beating drum
that had kept me 
dancing.

for ransom I gave
my stamp of gold
that had kept me
rescued.

for ransom I gave
my sweet blossom white
that had kept me
believing.

for ransom I gave
my very marrow
that had kept me
loved.

for ransom
for you
I paid a price
that never will account
for everything you
never gave.

for every promise ever made
for every teary goodbye
for every mistake I forgave
for every haunting lullaby

for every sea of red
for every bone that cried
for every ounce shed
for every reason I lied

I ransomed you from us!
Yet you pine and need
and call out for more!
What more do I have
for I gave you my very bones!

There is but one treasure
you cannot store;
no vengeance can be sought
nor illusion ever sold
nor penance to be bought
that would let me give to you
this voice.

for I may be caged, and
stripped of my flight,
but I will forever sing
to starve off the
ancient lonely night
and keep these broken
borders, our city of light
alive, to keep this city
alive tonight.

this song, 
this song alone
means an entire city to me.