[Intro] The bus doors opened, and in that moment I heard the sound of an unfamiliar town Standing still beneath the midday sun I felt this journey changing shape At the end of the road from Tallinn A brand-new view was waiting there One more Baltic country before me I started walking on my own [Verse 1] As I wandered through the streets of Riga The old buildings seemed to wake Red rooftops and ancient stone walls Held a foreign rhythm in the air I looked up at the House of Blackheads Its towers rising toward the sky Behind the beauty of the city A quiet shadow stretched nearby [Pre-Chorus] Beneath the Freedom Monument People’s wishes turned into wind Carrying memories of the past Riga keeps moving through the present [Chorus] Riga, Riga, light and shadow Beauty shining through the streets Laughter mixed with old scars Living underneath the same blue sky Riga, Riga, city at night Even when the darkness settles in If you keep walking with your eyes wide open You’ll find a truth you’ve never seen [Verse 2] At the Central Market The local life was overflowing Vegetables, bread and voices Filled the air with everyday sounds I found some honey for a bargain And packed it gently in my bag I tasted Aukstā zupa Then drank kvass to cool my throat [Verse 3] Capsule toys lined up in the shops And I even came across sushi Japanese culture from so far away Had found its place in Riga too I looked up at the Cat House Searching for the cats above Through old back streets and modern stores I watched the city change its face [Chorus] Riga, Riga, light and shadow Colors shaped by history Nostalgia and a brand-new future Crossing paths and flowing free Riga, Riga, carried by the wind I chased the sights I’d never known Beyond the darkness, what I found Was the strength of lives still moving on [Bridge] I tried to ask the owner of the hostel But Russian was the only language spoken Lost behind a wall of words We crossed the night with signs and gestures The streets still carried Soviet shadows Gray buildings and distant memories Even beneath the shining towers An older age was sleeping quietly [Verse 4 – FLOW] The film FLOW brought new attention To Latvia’s quiet story Objects of its characters stood around the town Waiting to be discovered We stopped each time we found one Smiling like children on the street Inside that wordless world A little story came alive [Final Chorus] Riga, Riga, light and shadow More than just a beautiful town The market’s noise and colors And the taste of kvass remain Riga, Riga, still inside me A city touched by darker tones But I saw it with my own eyes And felt its heartbeat in my bones [Outro] The time for the bus was drawing near I said goodbye to Riga’s streets I had believed the distant stories And judged the city before I came But walking through it, feeling the wind Changed the picture in my mind Riga’s gentle people, peaceful smiles A quiet life beneath the streets You only learn what’s truly there When you see it and feel it yourself I carry Riga’s light and shadow As I search for what comes next The journey that began in Tallinn Leads to the final Baltic land
