[Verse 1: Clear ringing high male lead, strong and clear over the drums] Two a.m. at the high camp door Forty-one times I been here before Headlamps up the ridge like a string of light Owen's breathing hard, and he's doing it right I check his knots, I check his feet I check the sky for the wind and the sleet I told the first one, years ago Here is the rule that I want you to know [Chorus: Clear ringing high male lead, full voice] I'll stand ten feet below So the top of the world is yours alone I carried you up, and I'll carry you home I'll stand ten feet below [Verse 2: Clear ringing high male lead, the guitars climbing] Forty-one faces on the top of the sky Forty-one cameras and a flag held high Doctors and bankers and a teacher from Perth Crying on the highest dirt on earth I coil the rope and I look at the ground That's not my picture, I don't need a crown My wife says "Nima, don't you want to see" I say "I see it in their faces, that's enough for me" [Chorus: Clear ringing high male lead, full voice] I'll stand ten feet below So the top of the world is yours alone I carried you up, and I'll carry you home I'll stand ten feet below [Verse 3: Clear ringing high male lead, harder, the wind rising] Above the last camp and the air goes thin Owen's on his knees, but he won't give in I clip him to me and I tell him "one more" Like I told the forty who came here before He doesn't say much, he just looks at the line Says "Nima, how many of these have been mine" I say "none of them, brother, that's the job, that's the deal" And he goes quiet a while, like he's working what's real [Bridge: Clear ringing high male lead, the drums pound like footsteps in the snow] Last climb, last ridge Last breath of the cold Owen stops ten feet short And he won't be told He unclips, he turns And he waits in the white He says "the one who carried everyone Gets the top tonight" [Interlude: Clear ringing high male lead, rope tug, two tugs on the rope, the old signal for go] Go [Final Chorus: ringing high, the whole band lifting, biggest voice of the song] I'll stand ten feet below So the top of the world is yours alone I carried you up, and I'll carry you home I'll stand ten feet below [Outro: Clear ringing high male lead] Forty-two times, and the first one mine The sun on the snow like a starting line Owen ten feet below with his camera raised And the whole sky ringing with a stranger's praise [End]
