Fire on the Water

[Verse 1 – Clean gang vocals, barely above the fire] We give you back to wind and wave, The dragon-ship that bore the brave. Your axe across your chest we lay, Your shield turned skyward for the day. The sail is flame, the mast is spear, We send you where the gods drink beer. [Verse 2 – Lower, almost spoken] No tears tonight, no bowed head shame, We light the pyre and speak your name. You laughed at death, you spat at fear, So we will laugh and drink your bier. The flames climb high, the smoke climbs higher, A raven road of living fire. [Chorus – Slow, heavy, voices cracked] Fire on the water, Carry him high. Fire on the water, Raven in the sky. Fire on the water, Let the night burn true. Fire on the water, We remember you. [Verse 3 – Guttural under clean chant] Your brothers stand with torches red, We pour the mead for you, not the dead. The first horn spills upon the deck, The second spills across our necks. The third we raise to empty air, You drink it now in Odin’s chair. [Verse 4 – Tagelharpa alone for eight beats, then voices return] The keel is ash, the ribs collapse, The night drinks deep and never naps. Yet still we hear your battle roar Inside the crackle and the soar. You are the spark that will not die, You are the flame that climbs the sky. [Final Chorus – Louder, defiant through grief] Fire on the water, Carry them all. Fire on the water, Answer the call. Fire on the water, Let the stars fall too. Fire on the water, We are coming soon. [Outro – One lone voice, fire hissing] Row on, brother. The bench is saved. The horn is full. The feast is loud. And when our own ships burn one day, We will find you laughing in the flame.