Cinder Moon Woman

[INTRO — STEAMY, OMINOUS | ~84 BPM] [SINGLE-CONE STEEL RESONATOR: 1–♭3–4–♭5–5–6] [SLIDE DWELLS ON ♭5→5] [SHAMISEN DRY PLUCK: 1–4–♭5–5] [DREADNOUGHT LOW OPEN CHORDS] [DISTANT MUTED TRUMPET: ♭3→4→♭5→5] [A — VERSE 1] I saw her where the badlands turned from crimson into black, Cinder moon above her, silver comb against her back. She stood beside the crossing where three dead roads divide, With one hand on her hip and one held open at her side. [RESONATOR: 1–♭3–4–♭5→5] She never said, “Come with me.” She didn't have to. [B — VERSE 2] Her boots were dusted scarlet, her dress was midnight blue, Silver at her fingers, and a red rose in her shoe. Then somewhere past the ridgeline something called me by my name. She smiled like she'd been waiting. I stepped closer just the same. [SHAMISEN ANSWER: 1–♭3–4 | ♭5→5] [A — CHORUS] Cinder-moon woman, what've you done to me? Got my shadow walking where my body ought to be. Cinder-moon woman, those eyes don't let me lie. Got something dark and crooked hanging underneath the sky. [RESONATOR + SHAMISEN UNISON: 1–♭3–4–♭5–5–6] And every road behind me disappears when you walk by. [B — VERSE 3] She moved like smoke through lamplight, slow enough to make me wait. Every step across the hardpan pulled me closer to my fate. The wind came off the mountain. Something whispered from below. Every nerve inside me warned me there was still some time to go. [STOP] She looked back. [ROGER] “Yeah. I know.” I followed anyway. [C — BRIDGE / THRESHOLD] [HALF-TIME | DRUMS REDUCED TO FLOOR TOM] [DREADNOUGHT: HUGE OPEN FIFTHS] [SHAMISEN: ♭5–5–6–5–♭5] [RESONATOR SLIDE: ♭3→4→♭5→5] Past the chapel with no steeple, past the well that had gone dry, past a hundred little ribbons someone tied and left to die. She drew one line across the dust. “Cross it if you choose.” I said, “What happens if I do?” She said, “You stop asking what you'll lose.” [TRUMPET SWELL] [C — INSTRUMENTAL DESCENT] [NO VOCAL — BUILD SLOWLY] [RESONATOR: 1–♭3–4–♭5–5–6] [SHAMISEN COUNTERLINE: 6–5–♭5–4–♭3–1] [TRUMPETS: ♭3–4–♭5→5–6] [DREADNOUGHT: HUGE OPEN WESTERN RHYTHM] [ALL FOUR LANGUAGES INTERLOCK — NEVER TAKE TURNS] [B — VERSE 4] Morning found me by the crossing, dust upon my coat and hands. No footprints coming toward me. Two sets leading toward the sands. There was silver in my pocket. There was ash beneath my tongue. And somewhere in the distance something called me toward the sun. I should've headed home. I didn't. [C — BRIDGE / RETURN] [STEAMY GROOVE RETURNS HARDER] [RESONATOR ♭5→5 | SHAMISEN 6→5 | BRASS LOW] I found her where the heat waves made the distant mountains swim. She said, “You came back quicker than I thought you would.” I grinned. She touched one finger to my chest. The whole world seemed to slide. “Don't mistake wanting this,” she said, “for having no place to hide.” [INSTRUMENTAL SURGE: 1–♭3–4–♭5–5–6] [B — VERSE 5] Now the dust rolls out before me, and the night falls close behind. Every mile I put between us only brings her back to mind. I see her in the lightning. I taste her in the rain. And every time that woman smiles I lose my way again. [ROGER] Maybe that's the point. [A — FINAL CHORUS]