"In the Flame of Error"

Album Art by Bill Scoville.

**"In the Flame of Error"** is a song by the American rock band Coheed and Cambria. It is the tenth track on their 2010 album *Year of the Black Rainbow*.

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**

I hate everything I am becoming, this change is torture

There is never enough to give

Only plenty to take, and this I wage

When the ground parts from below, will it feel so?

How can I gain from another when the other goes?

This hand, this hurt, my heart

I'll flirt with disaster

Just know now, man, the deal is off

**[Chorus]**

I'll be no good, this time defines

I'll put this touch around the grip of this knife

These dirty hands just won't come clean

I'm a murderer, the worst these worlds will see

**[Verse 2]**

Mercy, please leave her just a little bit longer

She's all my world

My love, I apologize, with that

You will see the end of days, just rest assured

'Cause they won't let her go and I remain so alone

To work out a clever way to get her home

I will do what I must

I'll flirt with disaster

Just know now, boy, you're out of luck

**[Chorus]**

I'll be no good, this time defines

I'll put this touch around the grip of this knife

These dirty hands just won't come clean

I'm a murderer, the worst these worlds will see

Oh, save me from defeat again, this is war

Murder the one so close

While she trusts, you curse

"Die, my darling!"

**[Bridge]**

If only you'd known how lovely you glow

In the flame of error

Oh, I ask too much, please turn back the clock

And take me instead

How have you come to lose

The only thing, the other one to your two?

I've become the wrong in everyone's sleep

Please burn me a god!

**[Chorus]**

I'll be no good, this time defines

I'll put this touch around the grip of this knife

These dirty hands just won't come clean

I'm a murderer, the worst these worlds will see

Oh, save me from defeat again, this is war

Murder the one so close

While she trusts, you curse

Die, my darling!

I'll be no good, this time defines

I'll put this touch around the grip of this knife

These dirty hands just won't come clean

I'm a murderer, the worst these worlds will see

Oh, save me from defeat again

Oh, save me from defeat again

## Story Context

This song shares its title with Chapter 17. Though it actually depicts a lot of the events in Chapter 14, though the line, "When the ground parts from below, will it feel so?" is a reference to how Chapter 17 opens up: Leonard has a nightmare in which he is swallowed up by a pit that develops from the ground parting beneath his feet.

Many of the lines in this song describe Leonard as he works on preparing Coheed and Cambria and the virus. He is a madman working tirelessly to save Pearl. The line, "How can I gain from another when the other goes?" describes his dilemma: does he give Ryan what he wants to save Pearl, only for the world to die, or foil Ryan's plans but cause Pearl's death? It's an impossible choice. Of course, he does his best to devise a compromise, but we clearly see what he thinks of this: "I'll put my touch around the grip of this knife / These dirty hands just won't come clean / I'm a murderer, the worst these worlds will see."

That said, we also have the line, "Die, my darling!" which could be a reference to the aforementioned namesake chapter in which Pearl returns brainwashed against him and, unfortunately leads to Pearl knocking Leonard out after threatening him with a gun.

## Trivia

* Sanchez played the Synthesizers & Keyboard with Wes Styles.
* The line "the worst these worlds will see" is the title of Chapter 4.

## References

1. ↑ Coheed and Cambria. Booklet. *Year of the Black Rainbow*, Columbia Records, 2010.
2. ↑ https://genius.com/Coheed-and-cambria-in-the-flame-of-error-lyrics