Dance Around the Cauldron

[Intro | whispered female vocal | ritualistic | close and intimate]

Black candle, red flame
Step inside and speak your name
One turn left, two turns right
We’re making trouble here tonight

[Instrumental Pickup | pounding floor toms | handclaps | dark bass pulse]

[Verse 1 | female vocal | smoky lower register | playful menace]

There’s a tapping at the window
There’s a shadow at the door
October dragged its fingernails
Across the kitchen floor

Bring the ribbon, bring the silver
Bring the secrets that you hide
When the moon climbs through the chimney
Leave your innocence outside

[Pre-Chorus | rising intensity | layered whispers]

One drop of sorrow
Two drops of sin
Stir it slowly
Breathe it in

The fire is calling
The night has begun
Come a little closer
There’s room for everyone

[Chorus | powerful female lead | catchy | layered backing vocals]

Dance around the cauldron
Round and round we go
Fire underneath us
Moonlight in the smoke

Clap your hands together
Let the old bells sound
Dance around the cauldron
Till the stars fall down

[Post-Chorus | chant | female gang vocals]

Round and round
Round and round
Keep your feet upon the ground

Round and round
Round and round
Don’t look back when you hear that sound

[Verse 2 | female vocal | confident | theatrical]

Drop a black key in the water
Drop a promise in the flame
Add the truth you never told them
And the one you will not name

Hear the branches scratching rhythm
Hear the ravens keeping time
Every ghost along the roadside
Has awakened for the night

[Pre-Chorus | building drums | layered harmonies]

One breath of midnight
One autumn leaf
Give us your laughter
Give us your grief

The fire is rising
The shadows have come
Come a little closer
There’s room for everyone

[Chorus | powerful female lead | heavier guitars]

Dance around the cauldron
Round and round we go
Fire underneath us
Moonlight in the smoke

Clap your hands together
Let the old bells sound
Dance around the cauldron
Till the stars fall down

[Instrumental Break | gothic guitar riff | organ stabs | stomping drums]

[Bridge | spoken-sung female vocal | spell-like | escalating]

Turn the spoon and turn the season
Every spell must have a reason
Turn the lock and turn the key
Wake the thing beneath the tree

Turn the hour, turn the weather
All the lost return together
When the clock strikes one, beware—

[Whispered Pause]

Something else is dancing there

[Final Chorus | soaring female vocal | full band | layered choir]

Dance around the cauldron
Round and round we go
Fire underneath us
Moonlight in the smoke

Raise your hands together
Let the whole town hear the sound
Dance around the cauldron
While the dead come dancing out

Dance around the cauldron
Let the wild wind howl
Dance around the cauldron
Till the moonlight burns us out

[Final Post-Chorus | female gang vocals | celebratory darkness]

Round and round
Round and round
Hear the footsteps shake the ground

Round and round
Round and round
Halloween has come to town

[Outro | whispered female vocal | cauldron bubbling softly]

Black candle, dying flame
Leave before it speaks your name