[INTRO — 4/4 ~82 BPM | SHAMISEN SOLO: 1–♭3–4–5–♭7 | dry, clipped, wide rests] [LOW DREADNOUGHT: 1–5 drone | NO DRUMS] [FEMALE LEAD — young, clear, guarded | full voice, NO whisper] Verse 1 — The Dock I stepped onto a foreign dock With one bag and twenty dollars. Coal still buried in my fingernails, Salt stiff in my collar. Black River took me down to Belle Rive. Belle Rive put me on the sea. Captain asked where I was headed. “Anywhere that isn't looking for me.” Three weeks sick across the ocean. Three more learning shipboard ways. Then mountains rose above the morning, Blue beneath the haze. [SHAMISEN: 1–♭3–4→5 | HOLD] I'd run so far from home now Nobody knew my name. [PAUSE] Maybe that was why I came. Verse 2 — Shoreborn [SHAMISEN: 1–♭3–4–5–♭7 | WOODBLOCK on 2/4] Signs I couldn't read above me. Words I couldn't understand. Most could speak my tongue when needed— Just not when I asked. First inn shook its head. Second pointed toward the street. Third man heard my accent, Said one word: “Shoreborn.” Heard it twice before sundown. Didn't need translation then. Whatever else that word might mean— It meant not one of them. Refrain [DREADNOUGHT + SHAMISEN INTERLOCK | 1–♭3–4→5] New name. New shore. Don't know what I'm looking for. No Winter badge. No wanted bill. No Frye knows where I'm sleeping still. I crossed the world to disappear. [SHAMISEN: 5→6 | FIRST 6] Now what do I do here? Verse 3 — The Bargain [SHAMISEN returns 1–♭3–4–5–♭7] Three days sleeping near the fish docks. Two days eating almost none. Found a training hall behind high walls Just before the setting sun. Old man sweeping by the doorway. I asked, “Work?” He shook his head. “Food?” Another no. “A place to sleep?” He looked me up and down. I emptied both my pockets. “Then buy me.” [PAUSE] That got his attention. Verse 4 — The Hall [4/4 | WOODBLOCK + SHAMISEN: 1–♭3–4–5] Roof above me. Rice at supper. Mat to sleep on by the wall. In exchange I hauled the water, Split the wood and scrubbed the hall. Every morning students entered. Bowed. Then trained. Again. Wooden swords and staffs and grappling. Fall. Get up. Again. [SHAMISEN: 1–♭3–4→5 | clipped] I learned their rhythm while I mopped. Learned who'd fall before they fell. Started slowing near the doorway When I heard the training bell. Instrumental — Watching [SHAMISEN FEATURE: 1–♭3–4–5–♭7] [SECOND PHRASE: 1–♭3–4–♭5→5] [THIRD: 1–♭3–4–♭5–5→6] [DREADNOUGHT: LOW 1–5 DRONE] [WOOD STAFF IMPACTS answer phrases] Verse 5 — Teacher Teacher caught me watching Tuesday. I looked down and scrubbed the floor. Wednesday watched reflections In the polished sliding door. Thursday one man swung too early. I whispered, “Open on the left.” Teacher turned. I kept on mopping. [SHAMISEN: ♭5→5] Friday after all had gone, He stood beside my pail. “You fight?” “No.” “You watch.” “Yes.” “Why?” I saw Frye Ranch again. [PAUSE] “Watching keeps me living.” [SHAMISEN: 5→6] Bridge — First Lesson [FREE TIME | SHAMISEN ONLY: 1–♭3–4] Teacher handed me a wooden staff. I held it like a broom. He struck. I hit the floor. Again. Floor. Again. Floor. [LONG PAUSE] Fourth time— I moved. [SHAMISEN: ♭5→5→6] Teacher almost smiled. “You learn.” I rubbed my shoulder. “Eventually.” Verse 6 — After the Bell [RETURN 4/4 | BASS enters | SHAMISEN: 1–♭3–4–♭5–5–6] Daylight belonged to labor. Night belonged to me. After everybody left, Teacher turned the training key. How to stand. How to fall. How to hear a shifting foot. How a smaller body borrows Strength another body puts. How to breathe without announcing. How to watch without a stare. How to know somebody's coming Before you know they're there. No magic. No secret touch. Just Teacher saying, “Again.” [SHAMISEN: 5→6] I liked that word by then. Final Refrain [FULL restrained groove | SHAMISEN + DREADNOUGHT contrary motion] New name. New shore. Maybe that's what I came for. No Winter badge. No father's gun. No need to tell what I have done. Let them call me shoreborn here. Let the Seven disappear. [SHAMISEN: 1–♭3–4–♭5–5→6] When daylight ends, My real work starts— After the bell. Outro [ALL DROP | SHAMISEN: 1–♭3–4] Teacher puts out every lamp But one. Mara kneels. He lays a wooden sword before her. “Tomorrow.” She reaches. His finger stops her hand. “Not yet.” [PAUSE] Mara pulls back. Teacher nods. “Good.” [BELL — ONE STRIKE] [SHAMISEN: ♭5→5→6 | HOLD 6] [CUT]
