The Devil's Lament

Weathered Pine

The Narrator

Weathered Pine

alternative folk-rock, cinematic

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All those years I'd begged for silence.
All those nights I'd prayed to end.
Now a girl who saw me lonely
Might still make it home again.

[Pre-Chorus]
He turned the glass toward autumn.
I went falling through the light.
Woke beneath a stand of hardwoods.
Heard her singing out of sight.

[Chorus]
Run Jenny run!
Don't climb that hill tonight.
Run Jenny run!
Please don't leave my sight.
Shades of Death are all around.
The pines won't set you free.
I'm not chasing after you...
I'm chasing...
What must be.

[Verse 2]
Found her kneeling by an oak tree,
With her papers spread below.
Tracing paths between the stories,
Finding things she shouldn't know.
There I was upon the cover.
Head bowed low and wings drawn tight.
She had written in the margin:
"Who sends him out at night?"

Then she looked up through the branches.
Saw the face she'd tried to read.
All the kindness in that picture
Couldn't tell her what she'd see.

[Pre-Chorus]
I held back against the pulling.
Dug my claws into the clay.
But my wings rose up above her,
And she stumbled back away.

[Verse 3]
Tried to call her.
Only screaming.
Tried to stop.
My legs ran on.
Through the trees, I saw the clearing.
Knew the place.
Knew what went wrong.
Every turn I took to reach her
Drove her farther up the trail.
Every hand I raised to warn her
Only made her disappear.

She was crying out for Mother.
I was reaching for her sleeve.
Just a little strip of linen.
Not enough for me to reach.

[Instrumental]

[Bridge]
One loose stone beneath her foot.
One last branch beyond her hand.
I had seen the ending printed.
Still I thought I'd catch her hand.
Heard the breath she drew to call out.
Heard it vanish on the air.
Reached across the broken hillside.

Nothing but the empty air.

All those people.
All those winters.
All those screams I'd carried through.
I had wanted nothing after.

Then I wanted one more chance
For you.

[Final Chorus]
Run Jenny run...
Don't climb that hill tonight.
Run Jenny run...
Please stay out of sight.
Shades of Death still whisper low.
The pines still know my name.
I'm not chasing after you...
I'm chasing...
A different page.

[Outro]
Silver opened in the branches.
Ong was waiting through the glow.
He was calling me to follow.
All I heard was her last no.

Far below, the lake lay quiet.
Held the moon without a sound.

I went down to face the creature
That her papers never found.

2880/7500

[Verse 1] Ong laid her papers on the table. Charcoal circles, dates, and thread. "She's been asking awkward questions. Best she fears the woods instead." Then he tapped a faded drawing. Little footprints. Rocky ground. I had read her name in passing. Now I couldn't put it down. All those years I'd begged for silence. All those nights I'd prayed to end. Now a girl who saw me lonely Might still make it home again. [Pre-Chorus] He turned the glass toward autumn. I went falling through the light. Woke beneath a stand of hardwoods. Heard her singing out of sight. [Chorus] Run Jenny run! Don't climb that hill tonight. Run Jenny run! Please don't leave my sight. Shades of Death are all around. The pines won't set you free. I'm not chasing after you... I'm chasing... What must be. [Verse 2] Found her kneeling by an oak tree, With her papers spread below. Tracing paths between the stories, Finding things she shouldn't know. There I was upon the cover. Head bowed low and wings drawn tight. She had written in the margin: "Who sends him out at night?" Then she looked up through the branches. Saw the face she'd tried to read. All the kindness in that picture Couldn't tell her what she'd see. [Pre-Chorus] I held back against the pulling. Dug my claws into the clay. But my wings rose up above her, And she stumbled back away. [Chorus] Run Jenny run! Don't climb that hill tonight. Run Jenny run! Please don't leave my sight. Shades of Death are all around. The pines won't set you free. I'm not chasing after you... I'm chasing... What must be. [Verse 3] Tried to call her. Only screaming. Tried to stop. My legs ran on. Through the trees, I saw the clearing. Knew the place. Knew what went wrong. Every turn I took to reach her Drove her farther up the trail. Every hand I raised to warn her Only made her disappear. She was crying out for Mother. I was reaching for her sleeve. Just a little strip of linen. Not enough for me to reach. [Instrumental] [Bridge] One loose stone beneath her foot. One last branch beyond her hand. I had seen the ending printed. Still I thought I'd catch her hand. Heard the breath she drew to call out. Heard it vanish on the air. Reached across the broken hillside. Nothing but the empty air. All those people. All those winters. All those screams I'd carried through. I had wanted nothing after. Then I wanted one more chance For you. [Final Chorus] Run Jenny run... Don't climb that hill tonight. Run Jenny run... Please stay out of sight. Shades of Death still whisper low. The pines still know my name. I'm not chasing after you... I'm chasing... A different page. [Outro] Silver opened in the branches. Ong was waiting through the glow. He was calling me to follow. All I heard was her last no. Far below, the lake lay quiet. Held the moon without a sound. I went down to face the creature That her papers never found.

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