The Ballad of Dr. Jekyll

Is it worth all the ringing?

Is it worth all the pain?

Is it worth the pretending? The fear? The disdain?

Is it worth the shift in countenance just to live how I'd like?

Is it worth the split in conscience just to sate what's inside?

Is it really still working, this thin, weak facade?

Can I really still maintain my emotional guard?

My costume is tearing

My patience is wearing

My ears begin to bleed as I feel the monster staring

And the fear contorts 'to anger as I begin to see red

And the anger grows remorseful as I return, retiring to bed

This sad, seeping tragedy inside my head

And there's so much to see here, so much more to do

Yet I can't help but relinquish control off to you

Perhaps our God in Heaven, thought to be kind and just

Isn't quite as forgiving as we once thought he was

This vile ebullition of liquor, tincture and salt

Seems to be my seldom let from this hellish assault

You sit there and tempt me, overgrowing with envy

Like a jealous, callous moss, determined to drain me till I'm empty

And I know I shouldn't feed you, but somehow I feel the need to

Like a deviant or a drunkard condemned by oaths they cannot see through

And lo, here I stand, half a man

So if you can, please take this phial from my hand

Before I change my mind and let the freak upon this land

I've tried this before, to keep a lock upon this door

But every night I sleep myself I awake as him once more

I've lied and I've bargained to keep these shackles hardened

But the creature lain in wait will never cease his barrage

And I've begun to grow short in both temperance and stores since

My salt I so rely on seems to be tainted and impure

So I laugh at the irony. And I know there's one single, lonesome cure

But if it takes Mr. Hyde with me

Then I'm glad to hang.