[Continuous strings throughout entire song – sustained violins, violas and low cellos remain audible from first bar to final bar; only dynamics and intensity change] [Intro – 4 bars, soft strings, Nordic fiddle hook, bowed lyre, low horn] [Verse 1 – Male, deep gritty rhythmic delivery, strings continue] Tar on the timber, frost on the rail, iron at my side, north wind in the sail. You stood by the water, one hand on my coat. No word between us as they pushed out the boat. I swore I'd return with silver and name, enough for the winter, enough for the grain. But the oars struck the water, you faded from sight. I chased after glory and sailed into night. [Pre-Chorus – Male, strings rise, fiddle ostinato, frame drums] We followed the coastline, we slept with the blade. I counted our winnings, the price that we paid. I thought I knew what made a man strong: bring home the silver, prove everyone wrong. [Chorus – Male lead, Female mournful response, strings remain full] [Male] Blood on the iron, silver on the scale, names of the fallen carried on the gale. I crossed the black water for honour and gold. [Female] Come back to the shore before your heart turns cold. [Male] Let them keep glory. Let them keep the sea. No silver outweighs what waits for me. [Female] Through wind and water, I wait by the sea. Come home to me. [Drop 1 – 8 bars, fiddle hook, pulse-pluck answers, frame drums, continuous strings] [Verse 2 – Male, stronger flow, raw Nordic drums, bowed lyre, strings continue] Mud on my boots, a crack in my shield. Three of my brothers won't leave this field. We took what was offered, we took what we won, but silver can't wake them when fighting is done. Coins in the pouch, another new shore. They ask for a raid, then ask for more. I think of your hands in the fields in the rain. I lay down my sword. No more blood for my name. [Bridge – raw Nordic male crew chant, strings remain underneath, heavy frame drums, low horns] [Male Lead] No songs for the killing. [Male Crew] We remember. [Male Lead] No crown for the scar. [Male Crew] We bear the scars. [Male Lead] I carry their names. [Male Crew] Their names remain. [Male Lead] All of this silver won't bring them home. [Final Build – 4 bars, bass removed, strings rise strongly, fiddle climbs] [Female – distant, mournful] Ah-ah... Come home. [Final Chorus – strongest section, wide strings, octave fiddle lead, pulse-pluck counter-melody, frame drums] [Male] Blood on the iron, silver on the scale, home on the horizon, wind in the sail. I crossed the black water chasing a name. [Female] Come back to me. You don't need the fame. [Male] Let them keep glory. Let them keep the sea. No silver outweighs what waits for me. [Female] I kept the fire through wind and rain. [Male & Female] Cross that last water. Come home again. [Instrumental Resolution – fiddle variation, bowed lyre, frame drums, continuous strings] [Outro – 4 bars, strings stay audible to final note, soft cello, bowed lyre] [Male] No silver outweighs what waits across the sea. [Female – soft] Ah-ah... [Male] No silver outweighs what waits across the sea. [Final note – cello and strings resolve together]
