[INTRO — WARM BORDERLAND VOODOO | 6/8 ~82 BPM | fingerpicked DREADNOUGHT | NYLON GUITAR: 1–♭3–4–5–6 | soft five-string bass | brushed snare] [FEMALE NARRATOR — low alto, warm, dry storytelling delivery] Verse 1 Six riders made the evening camp Beside a shallow stream, No fire bigger than they needed, No light where it could gleam. Three black shadows crossed the sunset, Each as heavy as a horse, Blue-white fire danced their feathers As they settled down, of course. Rook came walking straight toward Silas, Head cocked sideways, taking stock. Silas asked if Rook might bite him. Della said, “Well... usually not.” [STORMCROW CROAK] Silas thought the word usually Was doing quite a lot. Verse 2 [LIGHTER 6/8 | playful NYLON] Sparks and Mischief chased each other, Climbing circles through the sky. One swept down and tagged the other— [ELECTRIC CRACK] Sent her hopping three feet high. Silas asked if that was normal. Della laughed and told him, “Yes.” Asked if she could make them stop it. Della answered, “More or less.” [SECOND ELECTRIC CRACK] Silas watched them for a minute, Then observed what others missed: Ten thousand riders followed Della. Those three simply— came back to her. [NYLON: 5→6] Verse 3 [ARRANGEMENT THINS] That turned talk toward home and family, Things remembered, things forgot. Della barely knew her parents, Or which memories were not Stories other people gave her, Polished smooth through passing years. She remembered warmth and fragments, Half a voice beside her ear. Silas knew a little different. He remembered hers as well. Not as martyrs. Not as legends. Just as people he could tell. Verse 4 Her father cheated playing cards, And wasn't very good. His guilty face betrayed the hand Long before the others could. Her mother laughed a little loudly When a joke caught her surprised. Della smiled to hear these people Brought to life before her eyes. Then she brushed her hair behind one ear. Silas stopped her there. Her mother did the very same thing When a thought required care. [PAUSE] Della hadn't known. [NYLON: 5→6] Refrain Some things disappear Before we're old enough to know. Some things stay beside us Long after we wish they'd go. A laugh, a hand, A half-remembered face. A word you'd give most anything To finally erase. Funny what we carry. Funny what we lose. Verse 5 Della asked about his mother. Silas only answered, “Kind.” Then she asked about his father. Silas took a little time. Finally he called him “Memorable.” Della knew enough to hear That wasn't really an answer— And enough to leave it there. [TELECASTER: ♭5→5→6] That surprised him more than questions. So a little later on, Silas said she'd trade a fortune For memories already gone. Della wanted more of hers. Silas wanted fewer still. Neither tried to fix the other. They just watched the evening fill. Refrain Some things disappear Before we're old enough to know. Some things stay beside us Long after we wish they'd go. A habit, a story, A laugh beside the fire. Sometimes someone gives you back A thing you couldn't acquire. Funny what we carry. Funny what we lose. Verse 6 — Rook [LIGHT GROOVE RETURNS] Then Silas noticed something missing. Something black was moving off. Rook had Silas's favorite hat Held proudly in his beak aloft. Della said that Rook liked hats. Silas answered he did too. She suggested negotiations. What else could a strategist do? [PLAYFUL TELECASTER: 5→6] Silas offered strips of jerky. Rook considered that as fair. Ate the jerky. Kept the Stetson. Walked away without a care. [PAUSE] Silas watched him go and muttered, “Negotiates just like my father.” Della laughed. And after half a second— So did Silas. Outro [DRUMS DROP | DREADNOUGHT + NYLON] Three great shadows by the fire. Six riders settling down. One man missing one good Stetson. One black thief still wearing the crown. [ELECTRIC CRACK] [STORMCROW CROAK] Silas decided further bargaining Could wait until the dawn. [NYLON: 1–♭3–4–5→6] Rook tucked his head beneath his wing. The hat was still on. [CUT]
