[intro — spoken] Many meetings. Many names. One table. One thing on it. [verse 1 — the voices; each couplet a different singer or register] "Bury it," said the deep. What's buried does not sleep. "Break it," said the bold. It breaks what breaks its hold. "Sink it," said the sea. The sea gives back for free. "Hide it," said the old. What's hidden still gets told. "Use it," said the proud. He said it far too loud. "Give it to the great." The great don't hesitate. [chorus] (silence — four beats) Everybody looked at their hands. [the smallest voice] I will take it. Ask me why another day. [verse 2 — the road's voices] "Go over," said the map. The mountain shut the gap. "Go on," said the proud. The snow came down too loud. "Go back," said the cold. "Go under," said the old. "Go south," said the year. Everything goes south from here. [chorus] (silence — four beats) Everybody looked at their hands. [the smallest voice] I will take it. Ask me why another day. [bridge — all voices, unison, slow] What you cannot put down, you pick up. What you cannot carry, you carry. The wise speak for hours. The small speak once. [outro — the smallest voice, alone] I will. I will.
