The Red Door - The Handsome Family

You appeared upon the white shore

On a dark and moonless eve

I led you through the stone gate

Torches spitting in the breeze

All around our palace glistened

Splashed with waves up from the sea

But you shone bright as a thousand suns

In your gown of ivory

One thing, I asked of you my love

As I combed your white-gold hair

Only stay your hand from the red door

The red door beneath the stairs

The red door under the stairs

The red door ‘neath the stairs

Stay your hand from that old, black lock

There’s nothing to see in there

Why do you stand so many hours

Staring out across the sea?

Why do you slip out past the black drapes

When I pretend that I’m asleep?

And even in the bright sun

As we walk the bone-white beach

You put your ear to the whispering shells

And turned away from me

Red in your dress’s hem tonight

A red flash in your eye

Why the tremor in your soft hands

When I pull you to my side?

The red door and what’s inside

The red door and all it hides

Stare away across the ocean waves

But I know what you’ve seen tonight