[Ranat Ek, temple bells, khong wong — instrumental only, no choir, no vocals until lyrics begin] Before the morning touched the fields, before the monks had lit the flame, the smoke rose slowly through the palms, and nothing would remain the same. [Verse 1] The paddies knew our fathers' hands, each grain remembered every name. The river fed both child and seed, the river now would feed the flame. We shaped our ploughs for other work, bound bamboo hard against the gate. The earth that filled our open palms would soon decide our fate. [Pre-Chorus] The southern road still welcomed feet. The sky still offered room to run. But one by one the doors were barred. No voice commanded. Everyone knew. [Chorus] We do not stand because we'll win. We stand because this is our home. Where temple bells have marked our days, where every harvest shaped our bones. Let every wall return to dust. Let every roof dissolve in night. We do not stand because we'll win. We stand because we will not leave. [Interlude — Ranat Ek melody, distant temple bells] [Verse 2] The monks placed ash upon our brows. No blessing promised victory. Only the strength to meet the dawn. A mother folded children's clothes. A father sharpened farming steel. Hands cracked by seasons gripping wood now learned another weight to feel. Smoke mixed with incense in the wind. The scent of rice became the air. No one spoke of fear. Everyone carried it. [Pre-Chorus] The drums arrived before the men. The birds abandoned morning songs. The first old gate cried through the wood. Still no one turned away. [Chorus] We do not stand because we'll win. We stand because this is our home. Where temple bells have marked our days, where every harvest shaped our bones. Let every wall return to dust. Let every roof dissolve in night. We do not stand because we'll win. We stand because we will not leave. [Verse 3] One week became another week. The wells grew dark. The fields grew still. Our shoulders carried smoke and ash. Our hands forgot the weight of sleep. Still every evening one small lamp burned beside the empty shrine. Not to call the gods. To remind ourselves that home was still alive. [Choir] We are still here. [Lead] Though every roof forgets our names— [Choir] We are still here. [Lead] Though every road now leads to fire— [Choir] We are still here. [Bridge] Our names may vanish into dust. Our bones may disappear beneath these fields. But no fire can burn the place where a people chose to remain. [Thai] เราจะไม่ทิ้งบ้านของเรา! (Rao ja mai ting baan khong rao!) [Whisper] We will not abandon our home. [Solo — Ranat Ek leads, guitar answers] [Final Chorus] We did not stand because we'd win. We stood because this was our home. Where temple bells had marked our days, where every harvest shaped our bones. Let every wall return to dust. Let morning find no fire at all. We did not stand because we'd win. We stood because we chose to stay. [Final Refrain] No king remained beside our walls. No promise waited in the dawn. Only our hands. Only our home. Only each other. [Outro] The river carries ash away. The paddies wait for another spring. One distant bell moves with the wind. [Thai choir] บางระจัน... [Silence] [End]
