The Bear in the Basement

[Intro] Down in the cellar where the old lights twitch

There’s a velvet bear with a crooked stitch

One glass eye and a grin sewn tight

Waiting for the house to wake tonight

[Verse 1] Mother said, “Don’t touch that thing.”

Father heard the floorboards sing

Every time the thunder rolled

That little bear turned wet and cold

It sat where the black dust curled

Holding secrets from another world

Ribbons torn and stuffing thin

Something breathing deep within

[Pre-Chorus] Rock it slow, don’t speak its name

Ashes dance inside the flame

Childhood sleeps with broken teeth

Underneath, underneath

[Chorus] There’s a bear in the basement laughing low

With button eyes that never close

It knows the sins beneath the stair

It knows who left the body there

Sing, little monster, hum that tune

Scratch your claws against the moon

Love went wrong, and mercy fled

Now the teddy wants the dead

[Verse 2] Once it belonged to a boy in chains

Who rode through storms and chapel rains

He kissed the dark, he kicked the door

Then vanished through the kitchen floor

They found his jacket, found his ring

Found blood dried black on everything

But the bear just smiled from the pantry shelf

Like it had swallowed half himself

[Pre-Chorus] Rock it slow, don’t break the thread

Some toys dream beside the dead

Needles rust and shadows breathe

Underneath, underneath

[Chorus] There’s a bear in the basement laughing low

With button eyes that never close

It knows the sins beneath the stair

It knows who left the body there

Sing, little monster, hum that tune

Scratch your claws against the moon

Love went wrong, and mercy fled

Now the teddy wants the dead

[Bridge] Do you hear the choir choking?

Do you see the curtains fall?

Every pretty little nightmare

Has its name carved in the wall

Do you hear the old bear counting?

Do you feel the cellar grin?

Every secret has a doorway

Every doorway lets it in

[Breakdown] Stuffed with sorrow

Stitched with screams

Nursery ashes

Rotten dreams

One eye watching

One eye gone

Clap your hands now

Play along

[Final Chorus] There’s a bear in the basement laughing low

With button eyes that never close

It knows the sins beneath the stair

It knows who left the body there

Sing, little monster, hum that tune

Scratch your claws against the moon

Love went wrong, and mercy fled

Now the teddy wants the dead

[Outro] Down in the cellar where the old lights twitch

There’s a velvet bear with a crooked stitch

If you hear it giggle, don’t turn your head

Some toys only wake when the house plays dead