[Spoken Word – Ukraniane female voice] Meer... Sveet-loh... Za-khyst... [Instrumental Intro] [Solo bandura arpeggio, crystalline] [Soft felted piano chords] [Chorus] Meer... Sveet-loh... Za-khyst... [Verse 1] Thread and cloth that the grandmothers spun Tracing the way that the rivers have run Stitched in the red and the black of the vine A map of a journey, yours joined with mine Swallows return when the winter is through Bringing the light and the morning to you [Pre-Chorus] [Cello swells] And though the sky is a heavy shade of blue The earth beneath is still turning to the truth [Chorus] [Vocal: Full, resonant, open-throat] [Energy: Projected, powerful, golden warmth] Like the sunflower follows the path of the day Your spirit is golden, it won’t look away Deep in the soil where the viburnum grows There’s a strength in the roots that everyone knows Rise again from the flame, like a light reborn Gilded and brave till the break of dawn Though the wind may be bitter and the night may be long The field is still standing [Sharp breath] the field is still strong [Verse 2] [Vocal: Intimate] Shelf in the hallway with old photographs Bread on the table and golden-hued laughs Willow is bending to touch the cold stream Keeping the quiet, protecting the dream I’m holding a light for the path you must tread Cloth for the journey, the salt and the bread [Bridge] [Vocal: Whisper, fragile] [Piano solo, warm and amber] It’s not in the shouting, it’s not in the storm It’s the hearth in the kitchen that keeps the heart warm A pattern is painted with prayers for the peace A story of life that will never quite cease [Stop] [Chorus] [Vocal: Full resonance, chest-voice, projected] [Climax: Shimmering and anthemic] Like the sunflower follows the path of the day Your spirit is golden, it won’t look away Deep in the soil where the viburnum grows There’s a strength in the roots that everyone knows Rise again from the flame, like a light reborn Gilded and brave till the break of dawn Though the wind may be bitter and the night may be long The field is still standing [Exhale] the field is still strong [Outro] [Vocal: Ethereal, distant] [Fading piano, bandura harmonics] The field is still standing... [Vocal: Soft melodic humming] Still strong... [Exhale] [Spoken Word – Ukraniane female, Whispered] Мир... Світло... Захист... (Meer... Sveet-loh... Za-khyst...) [Slow piano decay] [Single high bandura note] [End]
