"The End Complete IV: The Road and the Damned"

"The End Complete IV: The Road and the Damned" is a song by the American rock band Coheed and Cambria. It is the twelfth song on their 2007 album Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV - Volume Two: No World For Tomorrow. It is also the fourth part of "The End Complete" song suite.

Lyrics
[Verse 1] I believed, in the world right in front of me But now, along these empty streets Where this curse haunts these memories Of a man and all he's lost

[Pre-Chorus] No time to think about it No room to breathe

[Chorus] If I had a way back, I'd ride through the dark and the dawn (But please don't wait for me) Because the man you love don't live, anymore I can't go home, again

[Verse 2] Tonight, you'll sleep No fear of what might become of me, my dear Within these end of days Where this longing turns this man to prey On a love that yearns to die

[Pre-Chorus] No time to live and doubt it Girl, I'm worth the second chance (What have I done?)

No time to think about it No room to breathe

[Chorus] If I had a way back, I'd ride through the dark and the dawn (But please don't wait for me) Because the man you love don't live, anymore I can't go home, again

[Bridge] I believed in the world once in front of me But now, that's gone

[Chorus] If I had a way back, I'd ride through the dark and the dawn (But please don't wait for me) Because the man you love don't live, anymore (I can't go home, again)

If I had a way back, I'd ride through the dark and the dawn (But please don't wait for me) Because the man you love don't live, anymore I can't go home, again

[Outro] Bye, goodbye Bye, goodbye Bye, goodbye

Goodbye Bye, goodbye Bye, goodbye Bye, my dear

Story Context
"" '''As the official story has not yet been released, anything in this section is speculation, not fact. More so than usual, of course.'''

The most obvious choice of speaker is Claudio Kilgannon. It seems to imply that he has either died or undergone a change which leaves him unrecognizable with lines like, "Because the man you love don't live, anymore" and "No fear of what might become of me". This may or may not take place after Heaven's Fence is effectively destroyed in one way or another, but the lyrics do not offer many clues.

Trivia

 * Stevie Blacke provided the string arrangements and played Violin, Viola, & Cello.
 * This song was originally written for the Ghost Rider soundtrack, but was ultimately rejected. The band decided it could be worked into the story and thus featured on this album.