The Heads of Samaria
The Heads of Samaria
The iron quill scratches a letter of dread
To the lords of Samaria, guardians of the dead!
Choose you a champion! Gird on your shield!
Or bow to the hammer on the battlefield!
The elders are shaking, their courage has flown
They betray the last sons of the ivory throne!
The blades flash like lightning, the royalty falls
And a river of crimson flows over the walls!
Ride! Ride through the shadows of night!
Bear the dark cargo before the dawn’s light!
(Chorus)
Seventy heads of the princes of old!
Severed and silenced, the prophecy told!
Packed into baskets and sent through the night!
Piled high by the city gate, ghastly and white!
Two heaps in the morning, a terrible sign!
The vengeance of God on the blood of the line!
The city is waking, the morning is high
Two mountains of bone under Jezreel’s sky!
The usurper arrives in a chariot of fire
To stand at the gates of the fallen empire!
“You call me a traitor!” his voice cuts the air
“But who struck down these seventy sleeping out there?
The word of Elijah shall never be broken!
The doom of the prophets has fiercely been spoken!”
Ride! Ride through the shadows of night!
Bear the dark cargo before the dawn’s light!
(Chorus)
Seventy heads of the princes of old!
Severed and silenced, the prophecy told!
Packed into baskets and sent through the night!
Piled high by the city gate, ghastly and white!
Two heaps in the morning, a terrible sign!
The vengeance of God on the blood of the line!
Fire and steel!
The judgment is real!
No mercy, no crown, the dynasty dies!
Smoke from the altars of Baal shall arise!
He drives like a maniac, fury and pride!
The wrath of the Lord is a merciless ride!
(Chorus)
Seventy heads of the princes of old!
Severed and silenced, the prophecy told!
Packed into baskets and sent through the night!
Piled high by the city gate, ghastly and white!
Two heaps in the morning, a terrible sign!
The vengeance of God on the blood of the line!
High by the city gate!
The baskets of fate!
The dynasty falls to the power of steel!
JEHU! RIDES! AGAIN!
(2 Kings 10)
Original Lyrics: Doug Van Pelt with AI assistance (This is the one song on the album that includes AI-penned lyrics with editing by Doug Van Pelt. This was the first song we did for this album. The other nine songs were written by Doug Van Pelt.
Original Proof of Concept: Doug Van Pelt
Music: Doug Van Pelt / Lee Haley
Original Lead Vocal: Doug Van Pelt
Original Proof-of-Concept Guitar: Lee Haley
Musical Direction: Lee Haley
Production & Arrangement: Lee Haley
Audio Development & Editing: Lee Haley
Video Direction, Development & Editing: Lee Haley
Creation Date: June 25, 2026
Composition Ownership:
Doug Van Pelt — 50% — ASCAP
Lee Haley — 50% — BMI
Publishing: Captive Thought (ASCAP)
Publishing: Hey! Lee-Hey! Lee (BMI)
© 2026 Doug Van Pelt and Lee Haley. All Rights Reserved.
Master Recording Ownership:
Doug Van Pelt — 50%
Lee Haley — 50%
℗ 2026 Doug Van Pelt and Lee Haley
AI-Assisted Production:
Additional instrumentation and production elements were created using AI-assisted and generative production tools under human creative direction. Original lyrics, lead vocal, and overall proof of concept were provided by Doug Van Pelt. Original proof-of-concept guitar, musical direction, arrangement, production development, audio editing, and video direction/editing were provided by Lee Haley.
ALBUM-WIDE AUTHORSHIP & AI DISCLOSURE
All lyrics on this project were written by Doug Van Pelt* - except this one song (“The Heads of Samaria”). Original lyrics written 100% by Doug Van Pelt.
AI-assisted tools were also used for selected instrumentation and production under the human creative and musical direction of Lee Haley. Songwriting, performance, production, and ownership credits are listed separately.
