[INTRO — whispered] Тихо... There was a frog in the reeds. Tiny thing. And the boy was hurting it. --- [VERSE 1] I was small when I heard it scream, little wet cry by the willow tree. Human boy laughing, pulling at its legs, squeezing harder just to hear it beg. I watched from the cattails, bare feet in the mud. Бедняжка... Then something in me stopped. Two inches of water round his boots— Глубже. Deeper. Deep. Deep. Deep. --- [PRE-CHORUS] He kicked. He clawed. He screamed for God. Бога здесь нет. And I was right there. --- [CHORUS] Welcome to **Chyortova Top**, where the black water watches. Hurt something small, step somewhere cruel— and the marsh remembers. Пусть боятся. Let them be afraid. Tell your children, tell your hunters— **Chyortova Top has teeth.** --- [VERSE 2] The frog sat shaking in my palm, one leg crooked, heartbeat fast. Живи. I put him back among the reeds and watched him disappear. And I felt good. Not hungry. Not guilty. Good. Like maybe monsters had a purpose. So I stayed. --- [REFRAIN] Тсс... Did you hear her? No. You heard the frogs. Did you see her? No. You saw the fog. Then why are your boots sinking? Why is the water at your throat? --- [VERSE 3] Years went by and stories grew. They gave me claws I never had, teeth too long, eyes too bright. I adored every version. Старая ведьма. Old hag. Bog witch. Devil in the mire. Every frightened story kept another cruel hand off my marsh. Пусть говорят. Let them talk. Fear is useful fencing. --- [DROP] ВЕДЬМА В ВОДЕ. HAG IN THE WATER. HAG IN THE REEDS. HAG GONNA GET YOU IF YOU MAKE SOMETHING BLEED. RUN FROM THE WATER. RUN FROM THE FOG. DON’T FUCK WITH THE MARSH— AND DON’T FUCK WITH THE FROGS. --- [FINAL CHORUS] Welcome to **Chyortova Top**, where the old hag watches. Mind your hands. Mind your heart. The marsh remembers. They called me devil. They called me cursed. I never corrected them. Зачем? Why would I? The frogs were safe. И этого достаточно.
