i’ve been sailing countless miles trying to find a way to break this curse. i try to wash away the guilt but each failure only makes it worse. the blood is on my hands but the stain goes much deeper than the skin. a shadow haunts the daylight hours. a body clings to me like unwashed sin.

i killed an albatross and i can’t seem to get it off my chest. the chains. the weight. the sentence.
i’ve paid my penance but this ship is still such a mess. after miles on the sea the thought cripples me that i haven’t even progressed. O God it doesn’t make sense. i thought there was grace in the sacraments. i try and i try to make amends for the crimes but i’ve failed in all my attempts. i can’t shake this regret. i’ve been paying my dues but i’m still in debt. got my sins in a pile. watch it grow every mile. but my good works don’t cover it. nothing will cover it.

then i hear a voice from somewhere deep beneath the waves. it says to me “o man redemption is just a leap away. you killed an albatross and you can’t seem to get yourself unbound. the chains. the weight. the sentence. you’ve done your penance but your ship’s still running aground. after every wrong turn you still haven’t learned that the only way out is down. man it doesn’t make sense. why you think you can earn back your innocence. you’re so caught up in the work. washing the blood from your shirt. you’re too busy to repent. i know you wear your regret. but i wear the scars that could pay your debt. wash your sins in the Tide flowing out of My side. i’ll be your advocate.

give up all of your thoughts of the shore. (all of your thoughts they will all count for naught). lose yourself. don’t waste your life anymore. (don’t waste your life anymore child i’ve settled your score). i’ll wear your guilt. your cross. your hell. i’ll wear your albatross as well. as soon as you realize you can’t save yourself.”