Key Entity Extraction I: Domino the Destitute Lyrics

Lyric discussion by stopstart 

Cover art for Key Entity Extraction I: Domino the Destitute lyrics by Coheed and Cambria

Sirius is amazed at what he finds in the Keywork as he steps from his shuttle: a moving, waving mass of shifting shapes and colors. The beauty of it is staggering, and the realization that he is the first person in the entire system to make this trek into such unknown territory fills him with pride. His joy is short lived, however, as he begins see humanoid shapes -- vague at first, then gaining definition -- writhing within the energy cloud. One, in particular, has the strength to overpower the others, charging towards Sirius and jumping into his body, possessing him and forcing him to relive the mysterious entity's tragic end.

Domino was, in life, an up-and-coming star in the boxing world, but he was not truly happy. Though his professional life was great, his personal life was not -- and these feelings were augmented as he watched his brother, Chess, live a happy life with his beautiful wife. He needed something to fill the void, and in that quest he found Kriptor Noncruss, a local crime boss, who told Domino he would go on to accomplish great things.

Kriptor's influence proved fatal; Domino began taking drugs to enhance his fighting abilities, and as he got addicted, he became more and more willing to do Kriptor's bidding. After losing against the reigning champion, Domino lost it all. He was homeless, broke, and desperate, opening him up to participate Kriptor's biggest scheme yet: an armored car heist that would pay Domino a small fortune. Realizing that his brother could also use the money, he convinced Chess to come along and help, but when the robbery went wrong, Chess was shot by the police as an injured Domino looked on. This was his breaking point; seeing no other option, he turned his gun on himself and ended his life in a moment of complete and utter devastation, leaving him to languish for eternity as a lost soul in the Keywork.

Song Meaning

As the gun is fired, a huge blast knocks Sirius free of Domino's control and rocks his ship, damaging it severely. Debris shoots in all directions and it seems that Sirius Amory's journey has been cut tragically short.