The Horse Knew First(response to 12Gauge858 The horse knew something was out there)

[Intro — midnight fence line, wind low, horse breathing, dark synth-cello hum] [Horse breathing slow] [Fence chain rattles] [Boots grind in gravel] [Distant thunder] [Horse snorts sharp] Female Outlaw, spoken low, half-whispered: Head high… by the fence line… [Horse snorts again, uneasy] Moon sittin’ on that wire gate… Dust on my boots, heart wide awake. [Dark electric guitar swells, reverse reverb] You twitchin’, girl… what you feel in that dark? [Pause] Mm. I feel it too. [Deep 808 heartbeat creeps in] I don’t back down… I just lean into the spark. [Verse 1] Head high by the fence line, silhouette cut in chrome Moon hangin’ off that wire gate like a busted payphone Dust climbin’ up my torn jeans, day’s sweat on my skin I heard that empty pasture callin’ somethin’ in Cold grass on my boot heels, slow breath in my chest One hand on that old post, one dare to the West You can call it what you wanna, but I don’t call it fear ’Cause that mare was tremblin’ hard and I was still right here [Pre-Hook] You can call it fate, you can call it fear Hoof scrape on the hardpan, pullin’ shadows near Every muscle in her neck said, “Girl, beware” But I locked eyes with the darkness like, “Come on, I’m there.” [Hook] The horse knew something was out there The horse knew first, yeah, the horse knew first I never back down, I don’t reverse I take that chill and turn it into a verse From anything, anyone, I never run If the night wants me, it better come strong The horse knew first, I felt that thrum If the dark want a fight, then the dark can come [Post-Hook — female humming, horse breathing] Mmm… horse knew first… Mmm… I don’t run, I confront… Mmm… if the night want me… (come on) then the night better come. [Verse 2] Branch hit the barn roof hard like a warning drum That horse spun in a circle like the future gone numb Big white eyes, no blinkin’, steam flyin’ from her nose Like she heard the ground mutter secrets down below I tasted iron on my tongue, storm metal in my veins Wind pushin’ at my jacket, whisperin’ my name Told myself, "Stay steady, girl, don’t you flinch or run" But that whole damned field got heavy like the war just begun [Pre-Hook] You can call it fate, you can call it fear Fence wires sang low, hissin’ in my ear Every star disappeared like a shut door slam But I squared my shoulders to the dark like, “You know who I am.” [Hook] The horse knew something was out there The horse knew first, yeah, the horse knew first I never back down, I don’t reverse I flip that dread into a rebel curse From anything, anyone, I never run If the night wants me, it better come strong The horse knew first, I felt that thrum If the dark want a fight, then the dark can come [Breakdown — distorted guitars, trap drums drop to halftime, thunder closer] [Horse breathing heavy] [Wind whipping dust across metal panels] [Dark synth-cello swells, 808 drops then growls back] [Electric guitar grinds, punk downstrokes] Female Outlaw, half spoken, half snarled: Maybe I’m stubborn… maybe I’m brave… Either way, I ain’t built for bein’ saved. [Horse snorts loud, echoing] She stomped once—amen. I grinned into the black. If the night wanna test me, then the night get cracked. She rears— LET’S GOOOOOOOOO! [808 slams back in] [Distorted guitars explode, punk tempo kicks in] [High-energy female shouts, dark choir undercurrent] [Verse 3] I slid my palm down her neck, felt that lightning in her bones Said, "Girl, we’ve both been dragged through hell and still rode home alone" Fear crawled up the fencepost, Lie smirked in the rain Justice stood dead center field, warm fire in the grain And that same old fool I used to be shook inside my skin But I laced my boots a notch tighter and I stared right in I ain’t beggin’ for no mercy, ain’t askin’ who they are I just spit into the thunder, lit my soul like a star [Bridge — half-time, dark cello, female humming, guitar pulse] Fear said, "You remember me?" I said, "I never forgot." Lie said, "You belong to me." I said, "No, I do not." Justice said, "Stand where you stand." I said, "Watch me stand tall." Fool said, "I ain’t know better." I said, "I learned from it all." [Pause] Horse snorted like a church bell, sky tore like a seam I looked past every shadow there and rode straight through my own scream. [Final Hook — bigger, female gang shouts, guitars screaming] The horse knew something was out there The horse knew first, yeah, the horse knew first I never back down, I don’t reverse Turn that fear into fire, into gospel and curse From anything, anyone, I never run If the night wants me, it better come strong The horse knew first, I felt that thrum If the dark want a war, tell it I’m the one [Repeat Hook — stronger, battle-ready] The horse knew something was out there The horse knew first, yeah, the horse knew first I never back down, I don’t reverse If you come for my soul, better bring a hearse From anything, anyone, I never run If the night wants me, it better come strong Head high by the fence line…