(A slow heartbeat.) The sound of a sharpening stone. Steel scraping steel. A forge fire roars to life. A hammer strikes. CLANG. ⸻ INTRO A calm voice… “Nothing worthy…” “Has ever been…” “Forged…” “Without fire.” (The guitars erupt.) ⸻ VERSE I Every blister Every scar Every mile Brought me here Hands are torn Spirit whole Fire tempered Heart and soul Every sunrise Every night Every battle Every fight Nothing given Nothing free Everything… Was earned by me ⸻ PRE-CHORUS Hammer falls Steel replies The old man… Slowly dies ⸻ CHORUS BLOOD OF THE FORGE!! FIRE IN MY VEINS!! EVERY DROP OF SWEAT!! WASHES AWAY THE CHAINS!! BLOOD OF THE FORGE!! TEMPERED BY THE FLAME!! I PAID THE PRICE!! I EARNED MY NAME!! ⸻ VERSE II The world will never See the cost Every battle Every loss Every morning No one knew Every promise I stayed true The calluses Upon my hands Were signed… By my demands The Iron wrote Across my skin The story… Of where I’ve been ⸻ PRE-CHORUS The fire burns The steel grows bright Weakness fades Into the night ⸻ CHORUS BLOOD OF THE FORGE!! FIRE IN MY VEINS!! EVERY DROP OF SWEAT!! BREAKS ANOTHER CHAIN!! ⸻ BRIDGE (Everything disappears.) Only the crackle of the forge. One voice… Almost fatherly. “The Forge…” “Never asked…” “For perfection.” “Only…” “Everything…” Silence. ⸻ BREAKDOWN (The slowest, heaviest riff yet.) EARN! YOUR! NAME! EARN! YOUR! NAME! The choir answers every line. Like warriors surrounding the fire. ⸻ VERSE III Not by anger Not by pride But refusing To step aside Every scar Becomes a page Written through Another age If tomorrow Takes my breath Still I’ll meet It without regret Because I lived With all I gave Not as a man… Who merely survived… But one… Who was forged. ⸻ FINAL CHORUS BLOOD OF THE FORGE!! FIRE IN MY VEINS!! EVERY DROP OF SWEAT!! BECAME MY STRENGTH!! BLOOD OF THE FORGE!! THE FLAME REMAINS!! THE MAN WHO ENTERED… IS NOT THE MAN WHO LEAVES!! ⸻ OUTRO The hammer slows. The fire crackles. Footsteps walk away. Then… One final sentence. “The Forge…” “Always remembers…” “What the fire changed.” CLANG.
