DOWN THROUGH THE NAME

psychedelic swamp blues rock, industrial swamp funk, gothic hard rock

[Intro: whispered male chant]
The county line is under water.
The church bell rings beneath the clay.
I heard the dead come walking softly
where the cypress roots drink day.

[Verse 1: smoky female alto]
Your headlights find the iron gate,
my hands are cold against the wheel.
A muddy hymn comes through the speakers,
though the radio's been still.
The dogs won't cross the soybean field.
The porch swing moves with no one there.
I taste the rain, I smell the pennies,
I feel a hand pass through my hair.

[Refrain: deep male chant]
Down through the earth, down through the name.
Down where the living forget the flame.
Hold your breath; don't answer twice.
The dark knows every door you hide.

[Instrumental: slow swamp groove, drifting vocal tones]

[Verse 2: female alto, conversational]
You said the old road led to nowhere,
but the tire tracks go both ways.
There's a lantern in the graveyard
burning blue against the haze.
A shape leans close beside the fence line,
wearing your father's Sunday coat.
It opens up its empty mouth
and calls your childhood nickname low.

[Refrain: layered male chant and female response]
Down through the earth, down through the name.
Down where the living forget the flame.
Hold your breath; don't answer twice.
The dark knows every door you hide.
(Female: I know the road. I know the sound.)
(Male: The roots are turning underground.)

[Progression: heavy guitars rise, ritual chant]
One step, no ground.
Two steps, no sky.
The room folds inward.
The hours unwind.
Your pulse is a lantern.
Your bones are a key.
The dead aren't behind us.
They're learning to breathe.

[Instrumental: progressive metal surge into deep hypnotic house pulse]

[Bridge: female alto, haunting]
If I call you, will you answer?
If I wake, will I be home?
There's a field beyond the ceiling
where the buried walk alone.

[Male chant]
No door. No dawn.
No sleep to save you.
No name. No shore.
The ground will claim you.

[Final Refrain: full ensemble, slow and immense]
Down through the earth, down through the name.
Down where the living forget the flame.
Hold your breath; don't answer twice.
The dark knows every door you hide.
Down through the earth, down through the name.
The night keeps count. The night remains.

[Outro: female wordless vocalizations, male whisper]
The bell sinks low.
The roots reach up.
The road runs on.
The dead wake up.

[Instrumental: dissolving drones and reversed textures]

2421/7500

[Intro: whispered male chant] The county line is under water. The church bell rings beneath the clay. I heard the dead come walking softly where the cypress roots drink day. [Verse 1: smoky female alto] Your headlights find the iron gate, my hands are cold against the wheel. A muddy hymn comes through the speakers, though the radio's been still. The dogs won't cross the soybean field. The porch swing moves with no one there. I taste the rain, I smell the pennies, I feel a hand pass through my hair. [Refrain: deep male chant] Down through the earth, down through the name. Down where the living forget the flame. Hold your breath; don't answer twice. The dark knows every door you hide. [Instrumental: slow swamp groove, drifting vocal tones] [Verse 2: female alto, conversational] You said the old road led to nowhere, but the tire tracks go both ways. There's a lantern in the graveyard burning blue against the haze. A shape leans close beside the fence line, wearing your father's Sunday coat. It opens up its empty mouth and calls your childhood nickname low. [Refrain: layered male chant and female response] Down through the earth, down through the name. Down where the living forget the flame. Hold your breath; don't answer twice. The dark knows every door you hide. (Female: I know the road. I know the sound.) (Male: The roots are turning underground.) [Progression: heavy guitars rise, ritual chant] One step, no ground. Two steps, no sky. The room folds inward. The hours unwind. Your pulse is a lantern. Your bones are a key. The dead aren't behind us. They're learning to breathe. [Instrumental: progressive metal surge into deep hypnotic house pulse] [Bridge: female alto, haunting] If I call you, will you answer? If I wake, will I be home? There's a field beyond the ceiling where the buried walk alone. [Male chant] No door. No dawn. No sleep to save you. No name. No shore. The ground will claim you. [Final Refrain: full ensemble, slow and immense] Down through the earth, down through the name. Down where the living forget the flame. Hold your breath; don't answer twice. The dark knows every door you hide. Down through the earth, down through the name. The night keeps count. The night remains. [Outro: female wordless vocalizations, male whisper] The bell sinks low. The roots reach up. The road runs on. The dead wake up. [Instrumental: dissolving drones and reversed textures]

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