B2 NDC BINGO 2026 G: Delta blues T: Dark Ages [Intro] [slow resonator guitar, distant church bell] [wind blowing across empty fields] [deep blues slide guitar answers] [lonely, worn-down atmosphere] [Verse 1] [gritty delta blues vocal, fingerpicked guitar] Well the crops all failed and the sky turned gray, Lord, the crops all failed and the sky turned gray. The tax man came and took what little we made away. The lord sat warm in his castle high, Yeah, the lord sat warm in his castle high. While the poor folk prayed and wondered why. [Chorus] [slide guitar fills between vocal lines] These are the dark age blues, The dark age blues tonight. No medicine, no justice, Just tryin' to survive another night. These are the dark age blues, Hear the church bells cry. You work from dawn till sunset, Then you pray before you die. [Verse 2] [steady blues shuffle] The plague rolled in like a thief at night, Lord, the plague rolled in like a thief at night. Took the strong and weak without a fight. The healer shrugged and the priest just prayed, Yeah, the healer shrugged and the priest just prayed. While another soul was carried away. [Chorus] [full band joins lightly] These are the dark age blues, The dark age blues tonight. No medicine, no justice, Just tryin' to survive another night. These are the dark age blues, Hear the church bells cry. You work from dawn till sunset, Then you pray before you die. [Instrumental Break] [slide guitar solo] [foot-stomping rhythm] [mournful harmonica enters] [Verse 3] [raw vocal delivery] A hundred years and a hundred fears, Lord, a hundred years and a hundred fears. Kings made promises and started wars with tears. If you spoke too loud, they'd call it sin, Yeah, if you spoke too loud, they'd call it sin. Best keep your thoughts locked deep within. [Bridge] [sparse guitar, almost spoken] But somewhere in the darkness, A candle learned to glow. A monk copied a book by hand, So knowledge wouldn't go. A blacksmith taught his little son, A mother taught her child. Even in the darkest years, Hope still lived a while. [Final Chorus] [strongest vocal performance, gospel-style backing hums] These are the dark age blues, The dark age blues tonight. But every dawn that's coming Brings a little bit more light. These are the dark age blues, Hear the old world sigh. We carried hope through darkness, And that's the reason why. These are the dark age blues... Still singin' through the night. [Outro] [solo slide guitar] [distant church bell] [harmonica fades into silence]
