When moonlight drips into the frame And darkness marks stray souls to claim He stands in vigil, taking aim The hour belongs to the Watchword In shattered halls where pupils sleep He peers through peepholes, counting sheep He draws his lens, and with a sweep The hour belongs to the Watchword The signal flickers, dark and red From the buzzbox by your bed Transmissions of this evening's dread And in a flash Click, click The hour belongs to the Watchword When mischief longs you from your cot And focus twists and shadows plot He winds, he aims and takes his shot The hour belongs to the Watchword Meanwhile, back at the vault In amber light where prints are traced He trains a dogged eye By negatives, he stamps the fleece And hangs them out to dry Exposed in baths Inverted cut In rows of numbered faces Developed in observance Aired as chilling nightly cases The signal flickers dark and red From the buzzbox by your bed Transmissions of this evening's dread And in a flash Click, click The hour belongs to the Watchword Restless ears should hit the sack For he holds service on nude backs And pictures you in white or black The hour belongs to the Watchword The hour belongs to the Watchword Tonight's case: "Out Beyond the Depths" It all began with a dame.