[Instrumental Intro — Sixteen bars, bass motif into massive guitar riff] [Rexor — Male gritty lead] Two came back along the ridge, No crossing made, no prize to bring. “White water over broken stone”— I heard the limit in the thing. My left shoulder burned beneath The weight of wanting one more try. Then a branch tore through the shallows Where I'd meant to send them by. [Morrow — Female low lead] From the channel I could feel it, New cold force against my side. Found the sloping western gravel, Moved above the rising line. My sail cut dark against the bank. I called across the narrowing sound— [Pre-Chorus — Morrow] Whatever claim you brought tonight, The water hasn't written down. [Chorus — Morrow, powerful female lead] THE RIVER CHANGES SIDES! Takes the lines we drew apart! You can roar against the current, You can't order it to halt. Keep your eyes upon the living, Keep your pride above the flood— No throne inside these shallows, No command inside this mud! [Bastion — Male bass-baritone] Water's reaching through the roots. Rampart, what do you need? [Rampart — Female alto] Time to stand. Then room behind you. Don't call that speed. [Bastion] The higher eastern shelf. I'll take the rear. [Rampart] Slowly. [Bastion] I hear. [Instrumental — Thirty-two bars] [Rolling drums, grinding bass, rising guitar solo] [Heavy riff returns] [Verse 2 — Rexor, male lead] Watched them leave the lower ground, Kept my followers on the ridge. Didn't turn their climbing backs Into another charge to pitch. Called the two scouts farther uphill, Moved with them, the wound still burned. Not surrender. Not an ending. Just a battle I deferred. [Morrow — Female lead] I stayed separate on the gravel, Neither banner over me. Saw the eastern pair climb higher— Nothing more than I could see. [Final Chorus — Morrow lead; layered female harmonies] THE RIVER CHANGES SIDES! But the claims remain alive. On the banks of Titans Maw, We're still here on different sides. Let the guitars hold the thunder, Let the dark retain the scar— We have left the lower crossing. We have not agreed who we are. [Outro — Heavy bass, sparse drums] [Bastion — Male spoken] Eastern shelf reached. Rampart is resting. [Rampart — Female spoken] Still need it. [Rexor — Male spoken] Keep off the crossing. [Morrow — Female spoken] For once, that order fits the water. [Unresolved guitar chord] [End]
