Sloth, My Velvet Keeper

musical theatre, dark, sad, relaxed tempo (~97 BPM), female vocal, airy timbre, crystalline timbre, breathy delivery, whispered delivery, harp, violin. The song text is about the mortal sin of sloth.

[Verse 1] I left the kettle singing Until the water thinned The letter facedown on the chair Still sealed beneath my hand The morning crossed the curtains I watched it lose its shape A kingdom made of blankets A throne I would not leave [Pre-Chorus] The clock keeps asking softly What will you do today? I fold its little question And put it far away [Chorus] Sloth, my velvet keeper You dress me in delay You tell me rest is mercy While all my hours decay Sloth, with gentle fingers You close the world outside I call this peace, I call this peace But something in me died [Verse 2] The bread went hard beside me The flowers bowed their heads A friend stood at the doorway Then walked away instead I knew the road was waiting I knew the door was wide But every step grew heavier When I could choose to rise [Pre-Chorus] No chain is on my ankle No hand has made me stay I only keep surrendering In smaller ways each day [Chorus] Sloth, my velvet keeper You dress me in delay You tell me rest is mercy While all my hours decay Sloth, with gentle fingers You close the world outside I call this peace, I call this peace But something in me died [Bridge] If I stand now, will the floor remember? If I speak, will my voice be mine? There is dust upon the altar There is daylight left to find I have worn this sweet forgiveness Like a nightgown, soft and white But the door is not a prison And the dawn has not denied me [Final Chorus] Sloth, my velvet keeper Your kindness has a cost You never had to strike me To teach me what I’ve lost Sloth, loosen your fingers Let the cold air enter in I will rise before I’m ready I will begin, begin [Outro] The kettle has gone silent The letter leaves my hand One foot upon the threshold One breath, and then I stand