I hear the roar of a big machine
Two worlds and in between
Hot metal and methedrine
I hear empire down
I hear the empire down

I hear the sons of the city and dispossessed
Get down, get undressed
We get pretty but you and me
We got the kingdom, we got the key
We got the empire, now as then
We don't doubt, we don't take direction
Lucretia, my reflection, dance the ghost with me

I hear the roar of a big machine
Two worlds and in between
Love lost, fire at will
Dum-dum bullets and shoot to kill, I hear
Dive, bombers and empire down
I hear the empire down

I hear the sons of the city and dispossessed
Get down, get undressed
We get pretty but you and me
We got the kingdom, we got the key
We got the empire, now as then
We don't doubt, we don't take direction
Lucretia, my reflection, dance the ghost with me

We look hard, we look through
We look hard to see for real
Such things I hear, they don't make sense
I don't see much evidence
I don't feel, I don't feel, I don't feel

I hear the sons of the city and dispossessed
Get down, get undressed
We get pretty but you and me
We got the kingdom, we got the key
We got the empire, now as then
We don't doubt, we don't take direction
Lucretia, my reflection, dance the ghost with me

A long train held up by page on page
A hard reign held up by rage
Once a railroad now it's done
The empire has begun