A plague like no other An omen so real Blood as its avatar Death blow as a seal A great prince undaunted Tempting his fate Defying affliction behind the iron gates Cloaked in black velvet With deep scarlet panes A chamber of evil Malevolence ordained A pendulum chimes A clock on the wall An omen's hymn to the midnight masquerade ball All night dying Colors of horror Royal or common, we are In the throes of the red death The tolling of midnight His majesty's guest Silent contagion to lay them all to rest Seizing his due He wanders the halls Feeling his might One touch a reveler falls Shrouded in crimson His best graveyard linen A phantasm's shroud to a nobleman's dread A thief in the night A devilish pose Sent a prince and king to their final repose All night dying Colors of horror Royal or common, we are In the throes of the red death