Words are Wind

Ron Ferguson

Ron1

Ron Ferguson

spaghetti western, outlaw voodoo blues

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[INTRO — CINEMATIC OUTLAW VOODOO WESTERN | 7/8 ~96 BPM | 4+3 | TELEGRAPH KEY establishes rhythm | dry DREADNOUGHT joins low strings | five-string bass | rim/snare behind pulse]
[TELECASTER — clipped 1–♭3–4→5 phrases between telegraph clicks]
[MALE WEATHERED BARITONE — storyteller, conversational]
Verse 1 — What Crown Junction Says
Crown Junction says Rob Winter
Is an outlaw with a badge.
Northern papers call him righteous.
Southern papers call him mad.
Geoffrey says the North is beaten.
North says Geoffrey's running scared.
Truth rode out three days ago—
[EXTRA 7th BEAT]
Nobody knows where.
One wire says five thousand riders.
Next one says fifteen.
One says Winter crossed Red River.
One says he ain't been seen.
[HARMONICA — dry ♭3→♭5]
Funny how a fact gets bigger
Every mile it rides the line.
Chorus
[7/8 → HUGE LAZY 4/4 | drums open | vocal falls farther BEHIND beat]
Words are wind.
Let 'em blow.
Everybody knows a story.
Nobody really knows.
Words are wind.
Some die quick.
Some cross seven counties
Before the truth can saddle up.
[TELECASTER — 4→5→6]
Words are wind.
And there's plenty blowing now.
Verse 2 — Sarah
[RETURN 7/8 | quieter | minor harmonica]
Sarah hears Rob murdered Geoffrey.
Geoffrey says Rob begged for peace.
Breakfast says the North surrendered.
Supper says its armies increased.
A maid slips Sarah one small clipping:
HIGH SHERIFF RIDES SOUTH.
Sarah reads her brother's name.
[PAUSE]
First smile in a month.
She burns the clipping in the fireplace.
Keeps the ashes in her hand.
Geoffrey asks what makes her happy.
Sarah says,
“Wouldn't understand.”
Verse 3 — Mara
[DREADNOUGHT becomes walking 7/8]
Poster says Mara Winter's wanted.
Poster underneath says dead.
Third says she's been captured.
Mara reads them while eating bread.
Innkeeper squints across the counter.
“Girl, you look a little like—”
Mara:
“I get that all the time.”
[TELECASTER — playful 5→6]
She leaves before daylight.
Verse 4 — Seven Sheriffs
[LOW TOM enters | political tension]
Granite County rides with Winter.
Dry Creek hasn't picked a side.
Two more swear the Iron Chair.
One waits to see who survives.
Every sheriff sends a statement.
Every statement says the law.
Every courthouse prints another reason
Why the other six are wrong.
[HARMONICA — ♭5 bend]
And somewhere underneath the speeches,
Men are loading guns.
Chorus
[4/4]
Words are wind.
Let 'em blow.
Everybody knows a story.
Nobody really knows.
Words are wind.
Some bring war.
Some make boys into heroes
Who've never heard a rifle roar.
Words are wind.
But Eli said it best—
[INSTRUMENTS THIN]
Some winds bury men.
Instrumental — The Wires
[7/8 | TELEGRAPH becomes percussion]
[DREADNOUGHT — 1–♭3–4 ostinato, 4+3]
[TELECASTER — HUMAN VOODOO 1–♭3–4–♭5–5–6]
[MINOR HARMONICA — fragmented Geoffrey motif appears, then disappears]
[RESONATOR enters beneath everything — ♭2→1]
[TELEGRAPH rhythm begins dropping beats]
Verse 5 — Northern Reports
[ARRANGEMENT progressively empties]
Winter Station missed its morning wire.
Then it missed the noon.
Next day somebody farther south
Said snow was coming soon.
August twenty-eight.
Still summer.
Crown Junction printed:
EARLY FROST.
Third northern station stopped replying.
[TELEGRAPH CLICKS STOP]
Nobody asked what it cost.
One operator sent five marks
Before his wire went dead.
Same five marks they'd found up north.
Nobody knew what they said.
Bridge — The Last Message
[METER COLLAPSES — FREE TIME | DREADNOUGHT drone + resonator]
A message came at 2:13.
Origin:
UNKNOWN.
No station mark.
No operator's name.
Just five signs.
Then words.
[TELEGRAPH — FIVE MARKS]
Operator leaned closer.
Wrote down what he heard.
[RESONATOR — ♭2→1]
THEY WALK WHEN WIND STOPS.
[LONG SILENCE]
Then:
DON'T LET THEM—
[WIRE CUTS]
Final Chorus
[4/4 | starts almost whispered, builds without speeding]
Words are wind.
Let 'em blow.
Seven counties choose their heroes.
Seven counties choose their foes.
Words are wind.
Until they ain't.
Until a warning reaches someone
One day too late.
Rob rides south.
Jack rode north.
Geoffrey guards his chair.
Mara walks.
Sarah waits.
[RESONATOR — ♭5→5]
And something...
[PAUSE]
is already there.
[6 — HOLD]
Outro — Crown Junction
[RETURN faint 7/8 telegraph rhythm]
Operator carries northern messages
To Geoffrey's office door.
Deputy reads them.
Laughs.
Says,
“Snow and ghost stories.
We've got ourselves a war.”
Drops them in a basket.
[FOOTSTEPS LEAVE]
[RESONATOR — ♭2→1]
One page slides onto the floor.
Five marks at the top.
Below them:
WINTER IS COMING.
[WIND]
[RESONATOR — ♭5→5→6]
[CUT]

4522/7500

[INTRO — CINEMATIC OUTLAW VOODOO WESTERN | 7/8 ~96 BPM | 4+3 | TELEGRAPH KEY establishes rhythm | dry DREADNOUGHT joins low strings | five-string bass | rim/snare behind pulse] [TELECASTER — clipped 1–♭3–4→5 phrases between telegraph clicks] [MALE WEATHERED BARITONE — storyteller, conversational] Verse 1 — What Crown Junction Says Crown Junction says Rob Winter Is an outlaw with a badge. Northern papers call him righteous. Southern papers call him mad. Geoffrey says the North is beaten. North says Geoffrey's running scared. Truth rode out three days ago— [EXTRA 7th BEAT] Nobody knows where. One wire says five thousand riders. Next one says fifteen. One says Winter crossed Red River. One says he ain't been seen. [HARMONICA — dry ♭3→♭5] Funny how a fact gets bigger Every mile it rides the line. Chorus [7/8 → HUGE LAZY 4/4 | drums open | vocal falls farther BEHIND beat] Words are wind. Let 'em blow. Everybody knows a story. Nobody really knows. Words are wind. Some die quick. Some cross seven counties Before the truth can saddle up. [TELECASTER — 4→5→6] Words are wind. And there's plenty blowing now. Verse 2 — Sarah [RETURN 7/8 | quieter | minor harmonica] Sarah hears Rob murdered Geoffrey. Geoffrey says Rob begged for peace. Breakfast says the North surrendered. Supper says its armies increased. A maid slips Sarah one small clipping: HIGH SHERIFF RIDES SOUTH. Sarah reads her brother's name. [PAUSE] First smile in a month. She burns the clipping in the fireplace. Keeps the ashes in her hand. Geoffrey asks what makes her happy. Sarah says, “Wouldn't understand.” Verse 3 — Mara [DREADNOUGHT becomes walking 7/8] Poster says Mara Winter's wanted. Poster underneath says dead. Third says she's been captured. Mara reads them while eating bread. Innkeeper squints across the counter. “Girl, you look a little like—” Mara: “I get that all the time.” [TELECASTER — playful 5→6] She leaves before daylight. Verse 4 — Seven Sheriffs [LOW TOM enters | political tension] Granite County rides with Winter. Dry Creek hasn't picked a side. Two more swear the Iron Chair. One waits to see who survives. Every sheriff sends a statement. Every statement says the law. Every courthouse prints another reason Why the other six are wrong. [HARMONICA — ♭5 bend] And somewhere underneath the speeches, Men are loading guns. Chorus [4/4] Words are wind. Let 'em blow. Everybody knows a story. Nobody really knows. Words are wind. Some bring war. Some make boys into heroes Who've never heard a rifle roar. Words are wind. But Eli said it best— [INSTRUMENTS THIN] Some winds bury men. Instrumental — The Wires [7/8 | TELEGRAPH becomes percussion] [DREADNOUGHT — 1–♭3–4 ostinato, 4+3] [TELECASTER — HUMAN VOODOO 1–♭3–4–♭5–5–6] [MINOR HARMONICA — fragmented Geoffrey motif appears, then disappears] [RESONATOR enters beneath everything — ♭2→1] [TELEGRAPH rhythm begins dropping beats] Verse 5 — Northern Reports [ARRANGEMENT progressively empties] Winter Station missed its morning wire. Then it missed the noon. Next day somebody farther south Said snow was coming soon. August twenty-eight. Still summer. Crown Junction printed: EARLY FROST. Third northern station stopped replying. [TELEGRAPH CLICKS STOP] Nobody asked what it cost. One operator sent five marks Before his wire went dead. Same five marks they'd found up north. Nobody knew what they said. Bridge — The Last Message [METER COLLAPSES — FREE TIME | DREADNOUGHT drone + resonator] A message came at 2:13. Origin: UNKNOWN. No station mark. No operator's name. Just five signs. Then words. [TELEGRAPH — FIVE MARKS] Operator leaned closer. Wrote down what he heard. [RESONATOR — ♭2→1] THEY WALK WHEN WIND STOPS. [LONG SILENCE] Then: DON'T LET THEM— [WIRE CUTS] Final Chorus [4/4 | starts almost whispered, builds without speeding] Words are wind. Let 'em blow. Seven counties choose their heroes. Seven counties choose their foes. Words are wind. Until they ain't. Until a warning reaches someone One day too late. Rob rides south. Jack rode north. Geoffrey guards his chair. Mara walks. Sarah waits. [RESONATOR — ♭5→5] And something... [PAUSE] is already there. [6 — HOLD] Outro — Crown Junction [RETURN faint 7/8 telegraph rhythm] Operator carries northern messages To Geoffrey's office door. Deputy reads them. Laughs. Says, “Snow and ghost stories. We've got ourselves a war.” Drops them in a basket. [FOOTSTEPS LEAVE] [RESONATOR — ♭2→1] One page slides onto the floor. Five marks at the top. Below them: WINTER IS COMING. [WIND] [RESONATOR — ♭5→5→6] [CUT]

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