Beyond the Last Waystone — Ember of Midgard — Nordic Folk Rock

Lyrics [Instrumental Opening] [Fast pounding drums, deep bass and acoustic strings. A short nyckelharpa melody answers a bright wooden flute before distorted melodic guitars enter.] [Verse 1] Morning broke across the pines, Frost was shining on the signs, Three old markers by the trail, Weathered wood and hammered nail. Behind us lay the roofs we knew, Smoke above the valley blue, Ahead, the path grew thin and wild, And every mile became untiled. No king had drawn the road ahead, No elder knew where onward led, We tightened straps and laughed aloud— There was no turning in us now. [Pre-Chorus] Past the fields, Past the stone, Past the places we had known. One more ridge, One more mile— Let the unknown make us smile! [Chorus] Beyond the last waystone we go! Where the wild winds freely blow! Over the ridge, into the blue, There are still a thousand worlds to view! Beyond the last waystone we run! Chasing roads beneath the sun! No map can tell us who we'll be— The open land is calling me! [Verse 2] Higher climbed the narrow ground, Not a chimney could be found, Only birch and granite walls, Distant water, eagle calls. We crossed a bridge of fallen pine, Followed tracks without a sign, Found a lake no tale had named, Silver under mountains framed. And standing there beneath that sky, No one asked the reason why. Some roads aren't meant to lead you back— They're meant to take you off the map. [Pre-Chorus] Past the fields, Past the stone, Past the places we had known. One more ridge, One more mile— Let the unknown make us smile! [Chorus] Beyond the last waystone we go! Where the wild winds freely blow! Over the ridge, into the blue, There are still a thousand worlds to view! Beyond the last waystone we run! Chasing roads beneath the sun! No map can tell us who we'll be— The open land is calling me! [Instrumental Folk Rock Break] [Fast tagelharpa rhythm locks into heavy drums and bass. Nyckelharpa takes the main melody, answered by wooden flute. Melodic electric guitar doubles the folk melody before horn blasts drive the whole band into a faster final phrase.] [Verse 3] Night came down beside the lake, Small bright sparks began to wake, Boots were torn and hands were cold, Still we spoke of roads untold. Not of riches, not of fame, Not of carving out a name. Only valleys yet unseen, Hidden somewhere past the green. And I knew before we slept, Something from that road we'd kept: The world grows wider every day When fear no longer chooses your way. [Bridge] Maybe somewhere years from now, I'll see that valley from a house. Maybe I'll hear someone say, “Why did you ever go that way?” I'll tell them— Because the path went on. Because the mountains stood beyond. Because sometimes the only sign you need Is knowing there is more to see. [Build] [Drums double in intensity. Male Nordic choir joins behind the lead vocal.] Hey! One more ridge! Hey! One more mile! Hey! Leave the old road for a while! [Final Chorus] Beyond the last waystone we go! Where the wild winds freely blow! Over the ridge, into the blue, There are still a thousand worlds to view! Beyond the last waystone we run! Chasing roads beneath the sun! No map can tell us who we'll be— The open land is calling me! Beyond the last waystone we go! Through the valleys far below! Carry the songs, carry the name— But never come back quite the same! Beyond the last waystone we run! Till another road's begun! Wherever unknown pathways lead— That's where I want my feet to be! [Outro] [Nyckelharpa, flute and melodic guitar repeat the chorus melody over pounding drums.] One more ridge! One more mile! Beyond the last waystone— Into the wild!