[INTRO — whispered female voices, wind, single deep drum] Before the temples were raised... Before the priests spoke Her name... Before the gods were given names... There was the Earth. There was the Mother. The Great Lady. --- [VERSE I — low, slow rhythm] From the darkness, She arose first, from the silence came Her voice. She lifted the heavens above the world, and mountains rose from Her bones. The oceans flowed within Her veins, the forests grew from Her breath, and every seed beneath the soil waited for Her awakening. No god had given birth to Her. No mortal hand had created Her. She was the beginning. --- [PRE-CHORUS — drums building] The stone remembers Her name, the ancient oak remembers Her voice, the river carries Her breath, and the Moon guards Her night. --- [CHORUS — POWERFUL FEMALE & MALE CHOIR] GREAT LADY! MOTHER EARTH! SOURCE OF LIFE, SOURCE OF STRENGTH! GREAT LADY! MOTHER OF THE WORLD! FROM YOUR WOMB THE WORLD WAS BORN! GAIA! Earth beneath our feet! GAIA! Fire burning in our hearts! GAIA! Mother of gods and mortals! GREAT LADY — YOU LIVE IN US! --- [VERSE II — faster rhythm, djembe + frame drums] Beside the stones, we light the fire, beneath the stars, we sing Her song. We place the seed within the darkness, to rise again with the returning light. When the Sun is born — life is born. When the Earth is ripe — our hands are full. When the leaves fall, we give Her back what has died. And when the winter comes... The Mother waits. --- [CHORUS — powerful] GREAT LADY! MOTHER EARTH! SOURCE OF LIFE, SOURCE OF STRENGTH! GREAT LADY! MOTHER OF THE WORLD! FROM YOUR WOMB THE WORLD WAS BORN! GAIA! Mother of stone! GAIA! Mother of the forest! GAIA! Mother of the sea! GREAT LADY — YOU LIVE IN US! --- [BRIDGE — suddenly quiet, female vocal only] When spring returns — You awaken the seed. When summer comes — You feed the world. When autumn falls — You welcome our dead. When winter comes — You hide life beneath the earth. Death does not end the circle. It only leads us back to the Mother. --- [RHYTHMIC CHANT — ALL VOICES, BUILDING] Earth! — Mother! Fire! — Life! Water! — Blood! Air! — Breath! Earth! Fire! Water! Air! Great Lady — be with us! Earth! Fire! Water! Air! Great Lady — live within us! --- [VERSE III — MONUMENTAL] Upon the hills stand ancient stones, that witnessed the birth of kings. Beneath the ancient oak, the roots lie silent, deeper than the memory of man. You need no temples made of gold. You need no walls of marble. The world itself is Your temple. The forest is Your altar. The stone is Your witness. The river is Your song. And humankind — a child of Your Earth. --- [GRAND FINAL CHORUS — FULL CHOIR + DRUMS] GREAT LADY! MOTHER EARTH! FIRST MOTHER OF US ALL! GREAT LADY! MOTHER OF THE WORLD! BEFORE THE GODS — THERE WERE YOU! GAIA! GAIA! GAIA! From Your Earth, we were born! GAIA! GAIA! GAIA! To Your Earth, we shall return! GAIA! GAIA! GAIA! The Circle of Life will never end! GREAT LADY — MOTHER EARTH — LIVE WITHIN US! --- [OUTRO — drums slowly fading] Mother... Earth... Great Lady... When the first flower blooms — You will be there. When the first light is kindled — You will be there. When the last human returns to the Earth... You will remain. For before the gods — You were. And after the gods — You will remain. GAIA... THE GREAT LADY.
