[ALL VOCALS IN THIS TRACK ARE FEMALE ONLY — lead vocal female mezzo, every backing layer female, every chorus response sung by women. NO MALE VOICES ANYWHERE. NO MALE SHOUTS. NO MALE CHANTS. NO MALE CHOIR.] [Intro — Track 01's outro wind continues, palm-muted electric guitar enters, low frame drum pulse, female lead vocal near-spoken low chest voice, sardonic, no other voices yet] Two longships in the harbour. Two kings at my gate. Two crowns from small kingdoms — two fools who think they're great. [Verse 1 — sardonic, walking pace, palm-muted electric, sparse marching percussion, female lead vocal alone] Vissavald has crossed the eastern sea His silks and his servants laid out for me Harald Grenske from the western fjord Brings his sword, his pride, his Christian word The mead horns lift — they sit, I stand A king on a bench is just another man They speak of unions, of crowns combined I count the lies, I keep my mind [Pre-Chorus — drums tightening, women's voices only stab "huh!" responses on the back beat, six to eight female voices in unison, no men] Drink, you kings, drink it down Drink the night the queen has wound [Chorus — full band, war horn on the first hit, women's chorus shouting every line in unison behind the female lead — six to eight female voices, all women, NO MEN, shieldmaiden chant character] Petty kings with petty crowns Petty kings will lay them down Petty kings came for a queen Petty kings will all lay down [Verse 2 — same swagger, slightly heavier, snare doubling, female lead vocal alone] They tell me I am beautiful They tell me I am rare Their kingdoms joined to mine, they say, Could rival every empire there I let them speak, I let them dream I let them carve their plans of me The torches burn, the mead runs free And I am writing what they'll be [Pre-Chorus — women's voices only on the back-beat stabs, no men] Drink, you kings, drink your fill The night is mine, the choice is still [Chorus — women's chorus only, shieldmaiden chant, NO MALE VOICES] Petty kings with petty crowns Petty kings will lay them down Petty kings came for a queen Petty kings will all lay down [Bridge — drop to half-time, exposed female lead vocal calling, women's chorus only answering each line as a hammer-strike, six to eight female voices in unison, builds toward the decision, NO MALE VOICES] A queen is not a wife to win A queen is not a treaty signed A queen is not the end of the road That little kings have climbed The bar will drop The torch will fall The hall will burn And I'll watch all [Final Chorus — biggest version, war horns punctuating, women's chorus only on every word, war drums pounding straight quarters, ALL FEMALE — NO MALE VOICES UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES] Petty kings with petty crowns Petty kings will lay them down Petty kings came for a queen Petty kings will all lay down [Outro — drums fall away, female lead vocal slow and predatory, women's chorus answering quietly behind her, fades into the next track's hush, NO MALE VOICES] Lay down... Lay down... Petty kings... Lay down.
