# DANCE WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES THIRTEEN *Electro Swing / Dark Cabaret — 128 BPM* [INTRO — CLOCK TICKING, VINYL CRACKLE, DISTANT PIANO] *(Spoken, deep and theatrical)* Ladies and gentlemen... Step out of the shadows. Straighten your tie. Powder your nose. The clock is about to strike midnight. *(Clock chimes: ONE... TWO... THREE...)* Oh, don't be frightened, darling. It's only when it strikes thirteen that the fun begins! [INSTRUMENTAL PICKUP — UPRIGHT BASS, MUTED TRUMPET, SWING BEAT] [VERSE 1] There's a crooked little ballroom at the end of the street, Where the dead wear diamonds and the devil taps his feet. There's a duchess in a red dress with a dagger in her glove, And a skeleton who's asking if I'd care to dance, my love. The bartender is blind, but he knows you by your sin, There's a crooked little mirror where your other self grins. So leave your good intentions hanging neatly by the door, 'Cause the house has got a secret and it's hungry for some more! [PRE-CHORUS — PIANO BUILDS, STRINGS TREMOLO] Tick-tock, tick-tock, hear the gears unwind, One more little second and we're leaving time behind. Twelve bells for the living, twelve bells for the dead, But the thirteenth bell is ringing in your head! [CHORUS — FULL BRASS, ELECTRONIC BASS, BIG SWING GROOVE] Dance when the clock strikes thirteen! When the dead dance with the queens! Let the devil play the violin, Tonight, nobody leaves clean! Tick-tock, darling, lose control, Swing your body, sell your soul! When the clock strikes thirteen, We'll dance where time has never been! Hey! Hey! Let the trumpets scream! Hey! Hey! Welcome to the dream! Spin me round till the stars go black— Once you're in, you can't go back! [POST-CHORUS — BRASS RIFF, SCAT VOCALS] Ba-da-ba-da, boom! Ba-da-ba-da, hey! Tip your hat to the undertaker, Everybody swing till the break of day! [VERSE 2] There's a countess made of candle wax who's melting in the heat, And a gentleman with no reflection dancing backwards to the beat. The chandeliers are laughing, all the shadows wear a crown, And the moon has bought a ticket just to watch us burn it down. The band is playing ragtime on a piano full of bones, While a million tiny tap shoes turn the floor to stepping stones. The conductor has no heartbeat, but he never misses time, And he bows to every sinner as the bells begin to chime! [PRE-CHORUS 2 — BRASS STABS, BUILDING KICK] Tick-tock, tick-tock, now the walls are breathing, All the locks are turning and the stars are disappearing. Twelve bells for the living, twelve bells for the dead, Thirteen little reasons why you should've stayed in bed! [CHORUS — BIGGER, CROWD CHANTING] Dance when the clock strikes thirteen! When the dead dance with the queens! Let the devil play the violin, Tonight, nobody leaves clean! Tick-tock, darling, lose control, Swing your body, sell your soul! When the clock strikes thirteen, We'll dance where time has never been! Hey! Hey! Let the trumpets scream! Hey! Hey! Welcome to the dream! Spin me round till the stars go black— Once you're in, you can't go back! [BRIDGE — MUSIC CUTS TO PIANO AND FINGER SNAPS] *(Spoken, playful and sinister)* Well, well, well... Look at you. So beautifully dressed. So terribly late. Tell me, darling... Did you really think you could leave before the final dance? *(Whispered)* Listen. [THE CLOCK STRIKES — SLOW, HEAVY BELLS] One... Two... Three... Four... Five... Six... Seven... Eight... Nine... Ten... Eleven... Twelve... *(Complete silence)* [THE THIRTEENTH STRIKE — MASSIVE IMPACT] *(Spoken, whispered)* Oh, darling... Now you're mine. [BREAKDOWN — HALF-TIME ELECTRONIC BASS, DARK SAXOPHONE] No tomorrow, no yesterday, No more rules to obey. Lose your name, forget your face, Everybody has a place! No more endings, no goodbye, Put your halo up for sale tonight! If this is hell, then pour the wine— The thirteenth hour is yours and mine! [FINAL CHORUS — DOUBLE ENERGY, FULL BRASS, CROWD CHOIRS] DANCE WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES THIRTEEN! MAKE A MESS OF EVERY DREAM! LET THE DEVIL PLAY THE VIOLIN, LET THE WHOLE DAMN WORLD SPIN! Tick-tock, darling, lose control! Swing your body, shake your soul! When the clock strikes thirteen, WE'RE THE WILDEST THING YOU'VE EVER SEEN! Hey! Hey! Let the trumpets scream! Hey! Hey! Long live the obscene! Raise your glass and paint the sky— WE DON'T STOP, WE NEVER DIE! Dance! Dance! Dance till the morning light! Dance! Dance! Through the endless night! Dance! Dance! Let the old world spin! WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES THIRTEEN— LET THE MADNESS IN! [INSTRUMENTAL OUTRO — EXTENDED ELECTRO SWING RIFF] *(Crowd chanting over brass and bass)* Thirteen! Thirteen! Thirteen! *(Trumpet solo, saxophone answering, rising electronic beat)* [FINAL BREAK — EVERYTHING STOPS] *(One last clock tick.)* *(Spoken, softly amused)* Ladies and gentlemen... Thank you for your time. *(A beat.)* All of it. [FINAL BELL — VINYL SCRATCH — DEAD SILENCE]
