[Intro Instrumental: 4 bars] [Mountain dulcimer, rustic acoustic guitar, dry acoustic recording, close-mic'd strings] [Allow instrumental opening before vocals] [Intro Chorus] I will not stand quiet for evil men But I may never leave the desert sand Tell our children I love them to the end [Musical Interlude: 4 bars] [Celtic fiddle lead, traditional Irish Uilleann pipes, mountain dulcimer, dry acoustic recording] [Verse 1] I packed the dawn in a canvas bag With a little bread and a weathered map The wind kept asking where you had gone I said your name and moved along [Pre-Chorus 1] If the road goes dry And the sky runs thin I keep your promise Written on my skin [Chorus] [Close-mic harmony: raw male lead, tight male harmony, and soaring female high counterpoint, zero reverb, dead room] If I never get to see you again Tell our children they're loved until the end I will not stand quiet for evil men But I may never leave the desert sand I may never leave the desert sand [Musical Interlude: 4 bars] [Traditional Irish Uilleann pipes, acoustic bass, rustic guitar strumming, dry acoustic recording] [Verse 2] The wells are low and the stones are hot Each footstep under scorching sun I learned the hard way what fear can send It makes a father count to ten [Chorus] [Close-mic harmony: raw male lead, tight male harmony, and soaring female high counterpoint, zero reverb, dead room] If I never get to see you again Tell our children they're loved until the end I will not stand quiet for evil men But I may never leave the desert sand I may never leave the desert sand [Pre-Chorus 2] But my hands stay steady My voice stays clear I carry your name Like a lantern here [Bridge] [Lo-fi vinyl crackle, drop music out, dry spoken-style vocals] If I fall where the mesquite bends If the long night wins, and the river ends Let my bones be a line in the dust Still speaking soft of the ones I trust [Instrumental Interlude: 8 bars] [Celtic fiddle lead, traditional Irish Uilleann pipes, mountain dulcimer, acoustic bass, sparse bodhran and muted acoustic kit with brush snare, dry acoustic recording] [Allow full instrumental break] [Final Chorus] [Close-mic harmony: raw male lead, tight male harmony, and soaring female high counterpoint, zero reverb, dead room] If I never get to see you again Tell our children they're loved until the end I will not stand quiet for evil men But I may never leave the desert sand I may never leave the desert sand Tell our children they're loved until the end
