[INTRO NO drums] [ONE QUIET FEMALE BREATH] [FEMALE LEAD — young adult, barely above whisper] Verse 1 — The Wheat I had one knee underneath me When the barn doors closed. Had my mouth already open. Almost called out, “Rob.” Then somebody fired. [TELECASTER — single ♭5] I dropped beneath the wheat. Saw my brother reach his pistol. Saw my mother leave her seat. Saw the windows bloom with rifle smoke. Saw men fall against the wall. [PAUSE] I saw everything. And couldn't do a goddamn thing at all. Refrain [DREADNOUGHT 6/8 ~84 BPM] Don't move. Don't breathe. Don't cry. Don't run. That's how you stay living When the killing isn't done. Don't pray loud. Don't make a sound. Let darkness cover everything. [TELECASTER — ♭5→5] I saw everything. Verse 2 — After Dark [6/8 walking pulse begins | five-string bass sparse] I lay there till the lanterns Started dying one by one. Heard them dragging bodies. Heard them laughing when they were done. Mosquitoes fed. My left leg cramped. I pissed myself and stayed. There are things that stop embarrassing you When you're trying not to make a grave. [PAUSE] Near midnight I began to crawl. Not north. Not west. Not home. East. [LOW DREADNOUGHT relentless walking figure] Verse 3 — First Week [6/8 ] First three days I followed fence lines. Slept beneath a cattle shed. Stole two apples from a wagon. Nearly got myself caught for bread. Found a creek and drank too quickly. Threw it up and drank again. Tore the lining from my jacket When my boots wore through my skin. [ONE BAR 5/8 — STUMBLE] I knew which moss meant water. Knew how rabbit trails would run. Father taught me how to make a fire. [PAUSE] Didn't dare make one. Chorus [6/8 remains exhausted] East until the water, Water to the sea. Put enough hard miles behind What Crown Junction thinks is me. No Winter name. No father's badge. No brother riding after me. Just one more dirty nameless boy Going east to find a river. Verse 4 — Second Week [ARRANGEMENT thinner | vocal drier, more tired] I traded someone's washing For a coat that fit me wrong. [Spoken] Stole a gun from a cowboy sleeping off a drunk [Sung] Cut my hair again with sheep shears. Kept the pieces moving on. Worked one morning stacking lumber. Stole the pay before they paid. Learned an honest day's a luxury When your face gets you betrayed. [MINOR HARMONICA — breathy ♭3→4] A deputy stopped me near Bell Crossing. Asked, “Boy, where's your folks?” I spat into the roadside. Said, “Dead.” [PAUSE] He tipped his hat. “Sorry.” So was I. Instrumental — Weeks [DREADNOUGHT — relentless 6/8 walking ostinato] [FIVE-STRING BASS — broad beats 1 and 4] [BRUSHED SNARE, behind pulse] [TELECASTER — sparse 1–♭3–4–♭5–5 phrases] [EVERY FOURTH PHRASE: ONE 5/8 BAR | rhythmic stumble, immediately recover] [MINOR HARMONICA — long breaths] [NO RESONATOR] Verse 5 — What Hunger Teaches Third week hunger quit hurting. That's when hunger scared me most. Caught a fish with stolen thread. Ate half of it near raw. Found a wanted bill in town. My own eyes stared back at me. MARA WINTER — Reward underneath. [TELECASTER — ♭5] Somebody'd drawn a mustache on me. [small tired laugh] Best friend I'd had in weeks. Bridge — Rob [6/8 → FREE TIME | dreadnought only] Every night I saw that farmhouse. Every morning saw it too. Sometimes Rob stood up before they fired. Sometimes Ma somehow got through. Sometimes I climbed out of the wheat And killed every Frye I saw. [PAUSE] Then I'd wake cold underneath a tree With my hand around my gun. [FEMALE — nearly spoken] I didn't save you, Rob. I know. [LONG PAUSE] But somebody's going to remember. [TELECASTER — warm 5→6] Verse 6 — Headwaters [RETURN 6/8 | walking pulse gains strength] Twenty-some days east of Frye Ranch, Ground began to tilt and fall. Little creeks became a current. Current gathered one and all. Then one morning through the cottonwoods I heard a deeper sound. Black River, young and narrow, Cutting south through broken ground. I laughed. Actually laughed. Dropped my pack beside the shore. After weeks of walking nowhere— [PAUSE] I had somewhere to go. Final Chorus [6/8 | strongest vocal yet, still NOT belted] Water to the south now. Black River to the sea. Let it carry me beyond What Seven Counties made of me. No Winter name. Not yet. No vengeance anybody sees. Just one more dirty nameless boy Following the river to the sea. Outro — The Boat [DRUMS thin | distant pulse gradually enters] Smoke above the cottonwoods. Low whistle down the bend. Big stern-wheeler pushing upriver, Black smoke pouring from her stacks. I watched the deckhands throwing line. Watched one jump onto the bank. Then saw the captain studying me. [PAUSE] He said, “Boy. You looking for work?” Mara looks at the river. Then east. Then back toward the Seven. “Depends.” Captain: “You shovel coal?” [small pause] Mara: “I do now.” [STEAM ENGINE locks into 6/8 pulse] [LOW FEMALE BREATH — this time almost a laugh] [CUT]
