Where the Lost Men Crawl

[Intro]
The gate came down behind me
And the black earth took my name

[Verse 1]
I woke beneath a ceiling cut from stone
With iron dust stuck cold against my tongue
A river dragged its chains along the dark
And every doorway watched me as I ran

[Pre-Chorus]
No map, no mercy, no way back above
Just one more breath to bargain with the dark

[Chorus]
I’m still alive where the lost men crawl
With my back to the fire and my hands on the wall
If the deep wants my bones, it can come take them now
I won’t kneel, I won’t break, I’m not finished somehow

[Verse 2]
A horn rang out beyond the broken bridge
Red eyes moved between the columns’ teeth
I traded my last match for a rusted blade
And learned which silences meant “leave”

[Pre-Chorus]
No map, no mercy, no way back above
Just one more breath to bargain with the dark

[Chorus]
I’m still alive where the lost men crawl
With my back to the fire and my hands on the wall
If the deep wants my bones, it can come take them now
I won’t kneel, I won’t break, I’m not finished somehow

[Bridge]
I heard my mother’s voice in the water below
Saying, “Keep your feet, son, don’t follow the cold”
So I climbed through the smoke with a split-open hand
And I carried her words like a torch through the land

[Final Chorus]
I’m still alive where the lost men crawl
With my back to the fire and my hands on the wall
If the deep wants my bones, it can come take them now
I won’t kneel, I won’t break, I’m not finished somehow
I won’t kneel, I won’t break
I’m not finished somehow

[Outro]
The gate is still waiting
But I’m still walking

Dark cinematic hard rock with industrial metal edges, driving mid-tempo stomp, low-tuned distorted guitars, pounding live drums, ominous low synth textures, tense close-miked male baritone verses opening into a forceful melodic chorus; arrangement builds from sparse rumbling intro to dense chorus, drops to half-time bridge, then final chorus with stacked backing vocals; raw, punchy mix with controlled grit and clear vocal focus.