[Intro — Bounsweet, delicate music-box waltz Strong carricatural russian accent, rolling the R crisp] There’s a path beyond the garden Vhere the vinter roses grow, But I’ve only seen its shimmer Through the branches and the snow. Vhen the silver breezes blew, Round the dreaming trees she flew, Spinning vhere the lilies meet— Little, lovely Bounsveet. [Verse 1 — Bounsweet] I am small enough for raindrops To become a silver sea, Yet the earth beneath the flowvers Keeps on vhispering to me. Still, beyond the garden gate, Just a berry on the vine, But a distant bell is ringing As though somevhere it is mine. [Pre-Chorus] There’s a path beyond the garden Vhere the vinter roses grow, But I’ve only seen its shimmer Through the branches and the snow. [Chorus — Soft and Hopeful] So I’ll follow vhere the vind goes, Past the only home I’ve known. Every road may lead me farther, But I vill not valk alone. [Transformation Interlude] [The music box becomes a graceful orchestral waltz.] A little farther… A little taller… [Verse 2 — Steenee] Now my steps have found a rhythm On the pale and frozen stone, And the frightened little heartbeat Has become a steadier tone. Once, I thought that growving stronger Meant becoming someone new. Now I know that every footstep Brings me closer to vhat’s true. [Pre-Chorus — Steenee] vhen my heel comes down, the earth moves, And the roots begin to vind. There is something buried deeply That vas alwvays meant as mine. [Chorus — Steenee] So I’ll follow through the vinter, Though the palace road is long. Every mile has made me braver; Every scar has shaped my song. I can feel it rising towvard me— A crown reaching for the light. [Bridge — In the Palace] [The orchestra softens. Distant choir and bells.] They say a throne must have a pair, A Tsar to rule, a queen to share. As if a voman’s powver lived In the mercy of her kings. But no one valked the road I valked. No one carried vhat I bore. [Transformation — Steenee to Tsareena] [One heel strikes the floor.] Once for the child I used to be. [Second stomp.] Tvice for the strength that carried me. [Third stomp.] Three times to shake the roots around— Now rise, my crown, Rise from the ground! [Final Verse — Tsareena] [Full imperial orchestra and choir] Now the palace vindows tremble, And the vinter turns to spring. Through the broken marble flooring, Golden branches tvist and vind. Not a treasure someone granted— But the birthright I designed. So I lift it from the darkness Vhere it vaited vithout sound, And I vear the strength I planted Vith each step upon the ground. I have crossed the longest vinter. I have brought myself this day. And should a Tsar deny my vorth, I’ll plant his pride beneath the earth. [Final Chorus — Tsareena] I have followed through the vinter, Past the only home I knew. Every mile became a promise That my hart vould carry through. Vines of emerald climb the pillars, vhile the distant church bells ring. Я сама себе царица. I am my own Tsareena. Neither trainer nor a gemstone designed me, Not because the court allows— But because the smallest voices Have a queen vho guides them now. [Grand Refrain — Choir and Stomping Rhythm] Let the orchestra grow louder! Let the banners fill the sky! Let the bells become a promise Every frightened heart can find! Bounsveet dreamed beneath the flowvers. Steenee crossed the frozen ground. Now Tsareena guards the garden Vith her strength vrapped all around. [Final Chorus — Highest Emotional Peak] Step by step, I crossed the snow; Root by root, I learned to grow. vhat began as something small Now stands proud above it all. [Outro — Orchestra fades into music box] One step vakes the roots below. One step gives them room to grow. One final step through stone and snow— And my world... becomes... their home...
