[Verse 1] "Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly" Ungainly means clumsy, awkward, feathers tangled, wings all wrong Fowl's a fancy word for bird, love, discourse means to speak, to chatter Yet the sense of what it uttered barely lasted half a song [Chorus] No one ever owned a bird that answered to that name No one taught a feathered creature just one word of blame Nevermore, Nevermore, a title no beak wore before Now it perches, calm and certain, by his chamber door [Verse 2] "Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door" Carved Athena, stone and silence, never spoke a word before Placid means it's calm, unmoving, like a lake without a breeze He half-smiles, half-shivers, caught between amusement and unease [Chorus] No one ever owned a bird that answered to that name No one taught a feathered creature just one word of blame Nevermore, Nevermore, a title no beak wore before Now it echoes near the bust above his chamber door [Verse 3] "But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only That one word" — as if it poured its whole dark spirit out in one plea He murmurs low, "Other friends have flown before," Like candle smoke, like promises that drift and cease to be Relevancy means the answer fits the question, snug and tight This time, by chance, the fit was close enough to steal the night [Bridge] Tomorrow it will leave him, so he tells himself, and grieves Just like the friends and hopes before it, slipping through his sleeves "Then the bird said, Nevermore" — One accidental echo landing heavy on the floor [Chorus] No one ever owned a bird that answered to that name No one taught a feathered creature just one word of blame Nevermore, Nevermore, a title no beak wore before Now it waits upon the bust above his chamber door [Outro] Nevermore, Nevermore, a name turning into something more Not just a word a bird can say — a verdict at the door Nevermore... Nevermore... [Final Chorus] No one ever owned a bird that answered to that name No one taught a feathered creature just one word of blame Nevermore, Nevermore, a title no beak wore before Still it sits there, dark and certain, by his chamber door Nevermore... Nevermore...
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