[Intro — whispered female] Inhale the silence Let the old dust fall A hidden river Moves beneath it all [Verse 1] Salt upon the window Rain along the stone I carry one small ember Still remembering home Hands upon the soil Warm beneath the clay Something without language Shows me how to stay [Pre-Chorus] Open the door within Let the stillness enter Every fragile breath Brings the night back to its center [Chorus — layered mantra] I return, I return To the place beneath my name I return, I return Through the water, through the flame Hold me, living earth Keep my heart awake I return, I return For every vow we make [Post-Chorus — distant choir] Within the river Within the stone Within the breathing world I am not alone [Verse 2] Far beyond the rooftops Clouds divide, then mend A silver bird is circling Where the dry fields end Underneath the thunder Roots refuse to flee What I thought was distant Has been carrying me [Pre-Chorus] Open the door within Let the stillness enter Every fragile breath Brings the night back to its center [Bridge — whispered male spoken phrases] Listen to the ground It keeps no borrowed names Follow the water inward Nothing living stays the same [Instrumental Interlude — flute, percussion, choir] [Final Chorus — wider, more powerful] I return, I return To the place beneath my name I return, I return Through the water, through the flame Hold me, living earth Keep my heart awake I return, I return For every vow we make [Final Post-Chorus — choir] Within the river Within the stone Within the breathing world I am not alone [Outro — fading whispers and choir] Stillness in the breathing world Warmth beneath the stone I return... I return... Not alone... … [End]
