[Verse 1] Sleep, my darling, hush thy cries, Under bleeding willow skies. Crookback’s cradle, sinkin' slow— Where three old mothers watch below... [Chorus – whispered harmony] Weavess winds the golden thread, Whispess hears what none have said. Brewess brews the child’s last dream... The Ladies rule where spirits scream. [Verse 2] In the bog where the roots run black, They took your name, they won’t give it back. Left an ear upon the tree— Now the whisper finds thee. [Chorus – darker tone] One for blood and one for bone, One for children left alone. Crookback Cradle, rock so wide— The marsh shall be your lullaby. [Bridge – chant & layered whispering voices] "Daughter of bark, and bough, and briar... Born of the Ghost, lit the cradle fire. The pact is sealed with silent screams— The mother rots, the daughter dreams..." [Pre-chorus] Ciri ran, her blood was light, They begged to taste, to take a bite. But fire and fate broke through their hold— And two lay still, in waters cold... [Final Chorus – slowed, fading, ritualistic] Sleep now, child, they’ve gone to ground, But one still walks where none hear sound. The thread remains, the tree still weeps... The last old Crone still sings in sleep... [Outro – low hum and wind in the reeds] “Sleep now... sleep... sleep now... The Ladies watch, still..."
