I Back in the cold of 1928 government agents destroyed what I'd found One night in July it was I who ran for my life Followed the railway that lead out of town A narrow escape from early mortality sealed my fate Haunting what I am now What once they were ever were what I am now! The tale I must tell to restore my worn faculties Centers around a tiara like crown I saw it first hand in the Newburyport library, I had to learn more of it's source so went round And bought me a seat on a bus sternly ill-advised To travel by day to that crumbling town, That crumbling, worm-eaten, foul whispered town A seer of sights and a seeker of history a genealogical researcher bound Uncovering truth, uncovering fantasy, hidden by fear in this shadowed old town This Order of Dagon repulsed and attracted me to desolate Innsmouth decay all around A primal and fish-like decay all around II Joe Sargent he drove the bus, decrepit not one of us Head narrow, unwinking eye, peculiar, but no surprise One dollar, I watched the shore, desolation, the sun was warm Atlantic, dead stumps and walls An epidemic named Innsmouth calls Deserted and deathly still, decay and squalor did make me ill Church basement, an empty door, a priest of Dagon tiara worn He shambled under robes a bejeweled sinister form III Just happy to be happily off that bus and in a hotel Checked my bag and left my sadness strolled out on the village square A dozen slant roof buildings, streetlights small a lonely few Good thing I'll be gone by nightfall, troubling thoughts of Deja Vu Found a young trustworthy man, did not like this place at all Shared his thoughts drew me a map, warned me of the danger spots Brought me in the rumor mill, found my interest growing still, he'll tell no more but Zadok will 96 years in this town, he had seen what none go near Bring him drink to grease his tongue, stranger tales you'll never hear Took my leave and wandered forth streets alone deserted town Architecture angles wrong, attic windows shuttered down Puzzled and disturbing blight, furtive glances, secret rights Zadok Allan in my sights

IV Follow me to a deserted spot and tell me all the crazy things you thought Forgive me if I don't believe or act as if I can see through this hazy disturbed lies people say define your life Now we settle in our lonely spot and tell your story show me what you got Forgive me if I don't believe or act as if I can see through this hazy disturbed lies people say define your life V Captain Obed South sea islands, trinket trades for solid gold Where it came from, no one's asking, sacrifice their very soul Back in Innsmouth, times were trying, prayers unanswered, faith was weak Obed Marsh he brought the saviours swimming off that Devil's Reef Townsfolk start to disappearing fishing booms and gold abounds Smart folks fearing Devil dealing Obed's followers jail bound Moonlight ocean filled with creatures jailbreaking night of knives Now the town will mix with daemons worship Dagon, never die Truth be told the worst is coming sea invasion turnabout Zadok screaming death to all men, they now know I've spoken out VI Who's that knocking at my door? Who's that knocking at my door? Who's that knocking at my door? Salt water splashes the hall floor Who's that knocking at my door? Who's that knocking at my door? Who's that knocking at my door? Salt water splashes the hall floor No time to waste no time to fear pack my bags get outta here I bolted all adjacent doors but they have brought the 2 x 4's got to reach a window soon breaking noise disturb the gloom heading north from room to room facing death and certain doom finally found an open glass here the chasers coming fast soon I see them coming down watch the roof and check the town their on to me a search will start find a skylight clamber in darkness falls around my skin! In the dark, in the dust, I'll find a way out I trust There's a door to the street hug the shadows, move discreet Sneak away door to door, search party predators VII My map won't help this morning flight, I move out by instinct hoping I'm right I wind and roam dead streets and lanes don't dare to look back if they have gained Finally I gave in and could not resist, looking to Devil's reef shrouded in mist For what I saw haunts and attracts me still The ocean alive and daemon filled The throng did hunt for my escape, and what I learned of their townscape So now I run along a route, abandoned railway evading pursuit But still they gained, I kept my head, planned I did Jumped in the brambles and there deep I hid My head was down, made no sound there with my eyes shut tight The mob was approaching and passed me right by I had to see aware of the trajedy, fearful of madness but still I was bold The hideous swarm of bleating and froglike forms I silently screamed and fainted out cold The next day I awoke at noon somehow not insane I walked the tracks to Arkham took a bus and then a train The Boston FBI I found receptive to my tale They later raided Innsmouth took the locals off to jail Couple years passed without thought of Innsmouth or the look Then dreams began to haunt my nights, I found a dusty book of family history photographs and names of those before Some family treasures of the past and relatives no more Seems my great-great grandfather was captain Obed Marsh His wife's repulsive gold tiara now just seemed bizarre My nightly dreams of watery depths grow stronger day by day While gazing in my mirror shows the blood I cannot change I feel a strong regret and fear for actions I have done But all will be forgiven when to Innsmouth I return And swim out to that Devil's Reef, and dive the black abyss to join my deep ones dwelling in eternal ocean bliss...