[Verse 1] The bear came back with a quieter tread A silver burr and a song in his head He touched the gate where the old marks lay And found his fear had worn away [Pre-Chorus] One leaf fell down, then another came near The path held still so everyone could hear [Chorus] The hollow clapped like thunder, gentle thunder Hills leaned close and roots rolled under Leaves came raining, stones settled round Every small heart made a listening sound The hollow clapped like thunder, gentle thunder For the bear who crossed and came home stronger [Verse 2] The fox brought berries in a woven reed The wren brought blue thread, bright as a seed The creek kept time by the alder tree And the bear bowed low, then laughed free [Pre-Chorus] The hillside answered, slope by slope A hundred hands made room for hope [Chorus] The hollow clapped like thunder, gentle thunder Hills leaned close and roots rolled under Leaves came raining, stones settled round Every small heart made a listening sound The hollow clapped like thunder, gentle thunder For the bear who crossed and came home stronger [Bridge] Not the bear who left with a guarded face Not the bear who measured every place He carried the dark, but he learned its name And walked back changed, though still the same [Final Chorus] The hollow clapped like thunder, gentle thunder Hills rose tall and roots rolled under Leaves came raining, stones settled round The whole green valley gathered its sound The hollow clapped like thunder, gentle thunder For the road, the return, and the heart grown kinder [Outro] So let the last leaf turn in the air Let the stones rest easy everywhere The bear looked up, and the hills replied With gentle thunder, side by side
