King of Nails

the toothless kiss of skeletons

and the summer hail

I'm the king of nails

I drink my liquor from the palm

of a child who spoke in tongues

and smelled like sun

give all your leaves

to the ghosts in the trees

to sink or to shine

the nails are all mine

and blood was rushing up the stairs

I shut my eyes and killed the cock

when the sun came knocking

oh to taste the salty oil

of your chest and on your eyes

when the sting is on the rise

sleep in the fire

with snakes I have sired

to sink or to shine

the nails are all mine

I drink my liquor from the palm

of a child who spoke in tongues

and smelled like sun

the toothless kiss of skeletons

and the summer hail

I'm the king of nails

give all your leaves

to the ghosts in the trees

to sink or to shine

the nails are all mine

sleep in the fire

with snakes I have sired

to sink or to shine

the nails are all mine