Stone and Salt [DRUMMER — spoken over slow kick, Zarakul] Nahr gundak. Barak thurn. [TRANSLATION — spoken low] The stone endures. The hammer raises. [SINGER — half-amused] Well, the man behind the kit has been talking stone all night Keeping me in rhythm but he won’t keep me in sight He calls his drum a hammer and his rhythm an oath So I sing over him for the sake of us both [DRUMMER — steady, Zarakul] Varrun. Varrun. Varrun. [SINGER — teasing, room laughs] He says varrun like it settles every fight Like three little words could hold back the night But the bass took a breath and the band leaned in And that stone-tongued drummer kept time with my sin [BRIDGE — faster call and response] [DRUMMER] Khazad-ûn thurn. [SINGER] Honey, the people are dancing they don’t need to be raised [DRUMMER] Nahr gundak. [SINGER] Then endure me a chorus you stubborn old blaze [DRUMMER] Barak. Barak. Barak. [SINGER] Fine, hammer me a downbeat I’ll hammer you a phrase [SINGER — softer] Now I don’t speak his stone-tongue and he won’t speak my own But he’s kept me in time since the night was barely grown Somewhere past midnight the words give out He drums what I’m singing and we ain’t translated yet [DRUMMER — intimate Zarakul] Thurn-dûm. [SINGER — quiet, caught] …well. That’s a word a girl remembers. [TAG — band falls to kick and breath] [DRUMMER] Nahr gundak. [SINGER] The stone endures. [DRUMMER] Barak thurn. [SINGER] The hammer raises. [DRUMMER] Varrun. [SINGER] …oath. [BOTH] And the night keeps time and the night keeps time And the night keeps time for us both [DRUMMER — low] Varrun. [SINGER — smiling] …I know.
