[Intro – rhythmic Celtic fiddle, wooden flute, lively bodhrán drums, sparkling harp, distant female vocal harmonies] [Female ensemble – bright, rhythmic wordless singing] (Ah-ya, ah-ya...) (Ah-ya, ah-ya...) [Verse 1 – warm female alto, mysterious yet rhythmic] At dusk the village fell asleep, The narrow streets were washed with rain. Beyond the fields a fiddle played, A tune I longed to hear again. A trail of lanterns climbed the hill, Their golden light was warm and clear. I followed every distant note And felt my footsteps lose their fear. [Pre-Chorus – brighter female soprano joins, rising strings and drums] And when the first drum found its beat, The whole square rose upon its feet! [Chorus – powerful female harmonies, uplifting Celtic folk rhythm] Where the lanterns dance tonight, Golden fire against the sky. Hear the fiddle, feel the thunder, Watch the silver shadows fly. Take my hand, the road is wide, There's a place here by my side. Where the lanterns dance tonight, Till the stars give way to light! [Instrumental dance – lively Celtic fiddle, tin whistle, harp, rhythmic folk percussion] [Verse 2 – clear female soprano, playful and storytelling] A woman met me at the gate, Her silver ribbons caught the light. "My mother taught me all these songs; We sing them every autumn night. Her mother sang them long before, And now their voices live in ours. Come, join the circle while you can, And dance beneath the midnight stars!" [Pre-Chorus – two female voices answering each other, rising energy] And when the first drum found its beat, The whole square rose upon its feet! [Chorus – radiant female ensemble, layered vocal harmonies] Where the lanterns dance tonight, Golden fire against the sky. Hear the fiddle, feel the thunder, Watch the silver shadows fly. Take my hand, the road is wide, There's a place here by my side. Where the lanterns dance tonight, Till the stars give way to light! [Instrumental folk dance break – energetic bodhrán, sweeping fiddle melody, playful flute, rhythmic handclaps] [Female ensemble – rhythmic wordless harmonies] (Ah-ya, ah-ya...) (Ah-ya, ah-ya...) [Bridge – intimate female solo, gentle harp and soft fiddle] At dawn the lanterns may go dark, Our footprints vanish in the rain. But when I hear that fiddle's song, I'll find this night again. [Instrumental build – rolling folk drums, rising strings, flutes joining] [Final Chorus – soaring female ensemble, energetic Celtic drums, joyful layered harmonies] Where the lanterns dance tonight, Golden fire against the sky. Hear the fiddle, feel the thunder, Watch the silver shadows fly. Take my hand, the road is wide, There's a place here by my side. Where the lanterns dance tonight, Till the stars give way to light! [Outro – fading fiddle and harp, soft female harmonies] [Female ensemble – gentle, distant] (Ah-ya, ah-ya...) Where the lanterns dance... [Final warm instrumental resolution]
