Father at the Tree Line
[Intro] [cold roadside night, distant dogs] [low wet bass pulse] [far pack choir, almost breath] ohh... home... ohh... [female whisper, close mic] mm... mm-mm... not home... [low male voice enters from far away] daughter... [Verse 1] [female lead, tense and quiet] she still had the marks where the chain used to sleep silver on her ankle dreams under her teeth her mother called it mercy her mother called it love but love with a lock is never soft enough [soft female backing] never soft... never soft... [low drum heartbeat] [Pre-Chorus] [female lead] she ran from the cellar she ran from the key but the night had another mouth waiting in the trees [pack choir low] waiting... waiting... [Chorus] [dark gospel lift, female lead strong but afraid] father at the tree line smiling in the dark he says open up the hunger let it tear out of your heart [low male father response] open... open... [female lead] mother made a prison father makes a throne but I am not a kingdom I am not your bone [pack choir] not your bone... not your bone... [Verse 2] [low bass male father, calm and dangerous] your mother feared the moon your mother feared the blood she buried you in iron and called the grave good [small pause] come now little daughter quit wearing human skin there is no sin in wanting what was born to win [pack choir, low] born to win... born to win... [female lead, under breath] no... [Pre-Chorus 2] [female lead, shaking] he does not bring a collar he does not bring a chain he brings a pack behind him and he calls it by my name [low male voices] your name... your name... [Chorus 2] [bigger, more dangerous] father at the tree line smiling in the dark he says open up the hunger let it tear out of your heart [father voice] open... open... mother made a prison father makes a throne but I am not a kingdom I am not your bone [female backing, rising] not your bone... not your bone... [Bridge] [strip to organ drone, breath, distant howls] [female lead almost spoken] I have been the locked door I have been the bite I have been the good girl shaking through the night [soft hums] mm... mm-mm... I have been the daughter hidden from the flame but I will not be chosen by a mouth that says my name [low father voice, near now] daughter... [female lead, firmer] no. [Breakdown] [tribal toms return, body-change tension] [female lead, rhythmic] my hands start burning my jaw starts wide the old wolf knocking from the other side [pack choir] let her in... let her in... [female lead] but if I open I open for me not for your bloodline not for your teeth [huge drum hit] [Final Chorus] [full dark gospel release, female lead over father and pack] father at the tree line smiling in the dark he says open up the hunger let it tear out of your heart [low male voices] open... open... mother made a prison father makes a throne but I am not a kingdom I am not your bone [repeat, all voices] I am not your bone I am not your bone [female vocalization] ahh-ahh... ooh... not your bone... [Outro] [drums become running footsteps] [female whisper] my mother had the key my father has the pack [low bass fades] one taught me to hide one wants the wolf back [father voice distant] daughter... [female whisper] not like that [pack choir fades] ohh... home... home... [cut to silence]
