[Verse 1] He came from the salt-gray north With frost in his beard and blood on his coat I came from the cedar gate With a broken blade and a vow I wrote We met by a burned-out shrine Two ghosts with hunger in our hands He laughed at my iron stance I bowed like the sea to the land [Pre-Chorus] He said, "Your name?" I said, "My oath" We both had sons We both had smoke [Chorus] Wolf and willow, side by side Wolf and willow, let us ride Death can wait at the riverbank We still breathe, we still stand Wolf and willow, side by side Wolf and willow, no more pride If fate comes sharp with a hungry hand We face the dark as one [Verse 2] He split his rations with me I patched his sleeve with a temple thread He showed me how to curse the storm I showed him how to keep his dead We slept under blackened pines With one eye open, one for dream He told me war makes ruins I told him mercy makes a seam [Pre-Chorus] He said, "Your pain?" I said, "Your loss?" He drew one line I crossed it soft [Chorus] Wolf and willow, side by side Wolf and willow, let us ride Death can wait at the riverbank We still breathe, we still stand Wolf and willow, side by side Wolf and willow, no more pride If fate comes sharp with a hungry hand We face the dark as one [Bridge] Then winter came with teeth And the hill was full of horns He locked his shield with mine And the dawn was torn We did not beg the sky We did not kneel to the blade We raised our broken names Like torches in the shade [Final Chorus] Wolf and willow, side by side Wolf and willow, let us ride Death can wait at the riverbank We still breathe, we still stand Wolf and willow, side by side Wolf and willow, no more pride If fate comes sharp with a hungry hand We face the dark as one Wolf and willow, side by side Wolf and willow, we survive
