[Intro — Lonely fiddle, distant wind, acoustic guitar] [Soft female voice, almost whispering] They say the mountains never weep, That stone remembers none who sleep. But seventeen carts rolled through the rain, And nothing here will be the same. [Low drums begin, a single bell tolls] [Verse 1 — Deep male vocal, mournful folk rhythm] In the days when melons filled the skies, And pumpkin fleets rode autumn tides, A giant walked among the small, Too strong to know his strength at all. He crushed the walls, he shook the ground, And sometimes swallowed folks he'd found. But when we called, he turned his head, And gave them back, ashamed instead. [Pre-Chorus — Rising strings, building drums] And who among us never fell? Who never made a mess of hell? A monster's not the shape you wear, But whether you can learn to care. [Chorus — Full folk-metal band, soaring harmonies] Oh, Karl! Oh, Karl! The autumn stars are falling! Oh, Karl! Oh, Karl! Can you hear your people calling? You were learning how to hold the world Without breaking everything. Now the mountain wears your name, And the cold November wind will sing. Oh, Karl! Oh, Karl! We should have let you grow! [Verse 2 — Driving guitars, mournful fiddle] The Library stood beneath the flame, The airships came, the pumpkins rained. And Fidget rode through smoke and fire, While Leon held the battle line. But somewhere far beneath the fray, A promise broke that autumn day. The Legal Elf came forth to stand, With judgment heavy in his hand. They said he'd put the matter right, They said he'd end the pumpkin's plight. But when the smoke had cleared the hill, The giant heart was lying still. [Pre-Chorus — Female harmony joins] He wasn't kind in all his ways, He wasn't wise in all his days. But even giants, rough and wild, Can learn to live as gentle children. [Chorus — Heavy guitars, doubled vocals] Oh, Karl! Oh, Karl! The autumn stars are falling! Oh, Karl! Oh, Karl! Can you hear your people calling? You were learning how to hold the world Without breaking everything. Now the mountain wears your name, And the cold November wind will sing. Oh, Karl! Oh, Karl! We should have let you grow! [Bridge — Instruments fall silent; soft acoustic guitar, female vocal] Seventeen wheelbarrows Beneath a grieving sky. Seventeen wheelbarrows... To carry one goodbye. No oven for your memory, No garden for your bones. We gathered all that once was you, And gave you earth and stones. [A quiet male voice] And someone served a pumpkin pie... [Long silence, mournful fiddle] ...I couldn't eat a bite. [Instrumental — Folk-metal crescendo] [Fiddle and hurdy-gurdy trade sorrowful melodies over galloping double-kick drums. Electric guitar enters with a soaring melodic solo, climbing toward a choral climax.] [Verse 3 — Male vocal, quiet and intimate] Now Fidget stands beside the mound, Her wrench laid gently on the ground. She's fixed a thousand broken things, From shattered gears to severed wings. But not the one who lies below, Not all the things she wished he'd know. And through her tears she softly said, "You gave them back. You heard what we said." "You'd only just begun to see The giant you were meant to be. I'd trade the victory, ships and all, For one more chance to talk, dear Karl." [Final Chorus — Full choir, powerful orchestral folk metal] OH, KARL! OH, KARL! LET THE AUTUMN HEAVENS HEAR US! OH, KARL! OH, KARL! LET THE MEMORY STAY NEAR US! You were learning how to hold the world Without breaking everything! And though the mountain bears your name, It's your gentle heart we'll sing! OH, KARL! OH, KARL! WE SHOULD HAVE LET YOU GROW! OH, KARL! OH, KARL! WE WISH WE'D LET YOU GROW! [Outro — Music fades to acoustic guitar and lone fiddle] [Soft female vocal] There is a mountain by the Library, Where the autumn flowers grow. And seventeen empty wheelbarrows Stand in one uneven row. [Whispered] Goodnight, Karl. You were getting better. [One final bell. Silence.]
