Jade Blade 玉刃小光 (Original)

[Verse 1] In the river town of Han A boy took up a blade His mother tied red thread So he’d remember where he stayed He learned the cut of bamboo And the weight of winter rain By fifteen he was called By a name no thief could stain [Pre-Chorus] The lord came asking gold The magistrate asked for fear But he kept his back straight And he kept his conscience near [Chorus] Jade blade, jade blade Hold the line tonight Jade blade, jade blade For the small and bright Jade blade, jade blade Hear the vow ring true He was born from the dust And he fought for you (for you) [Verse 2] At the north gate, dawn was thin Like silk against the stone Three war banners climbed the hill And left the valley all alone He split a spear in two He broke a shield like glass Then bowed to every fallen man And let the wounded pass [Pre-Chorus] The commander begged him stay The merchants begged him flee But he saw his home in flames And chose what he must be [Chorus] Jade blade, jade blade Hold the line tonight Jade blade, jade blade For the small and bright Jade blade, jade blade Hear the vow ring true He was born from the dust And he fought for you (for you) [Bridge] When moonlight touched the moat He washed the blood away Laid the sword across his knees And watched the far-off gray No banner took his name No song made him a king Still the children in the market Clapped when the old men sing [Final Chorus] Jade blade, jade blade Hold the line tonight Jade blade, jade blade For the small and bright Jade blade, jade blade Hear the vow ring true He was born from the dust And he fought for you (for you) [Outro] Red thread on the hilt And dust upon his sleeve A quiet man, a sharpened heart Too proud to ever leave