THE HOUSE THAT WALKS AT MIDNIGHT

Eastern European folklore metal, folk metal

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V6-WILD

[Intro — creaking strings; solitary cimbalom]
There was a light between the trees.
I wish I’d let it be.

[Verse 1 — low, intimate vocal; crooked fiddle]
Past the last abandoned sawmill,
Where the road ran out of stones,
Stood a hut with shutters open,
Warm enough to thaw my bones.
One chair beside the firelight,
One bowl beside the bread.
I knocked and waited in the clearing—
Not a word from those within.

[Pre-Chorus — heavy footsteps enter the rhythm]
I left it standing by the birches,
Walked until the trees grew thin.
Then heard a cupboard slam behind me—
And smelled its chimney smoke again.

[Chorus — enormous stomping riffs; soaring vocal]
The house that walks at midnight
Has a hunger built of wood.
I thought I saw a shelter
Where no earthly shelter stood.
Run until your lungs are burning,
Run until the dawn breaks through—
You can leave the house behind you,
But the house can follow you.

[Verse 2 — grinding bass; fiddle answers each phrase]
Two great feet tore free of bracken,
Lifted all that rotten oak.
In the window sat a woman,
Stitching calmly through the smoke.
Every stride shook cups and saucers,
Every stomp split frozen clay.
She drew another loop of scarlet,
Never once looked up my way.

[Pre-Chorus — strings tighten; drums build]
She pulled the thread between her teeth;
The path bent back beneath my feet.
I marked a birch and passed it twice—
Her window lit it from inside.

[Chorus — wider harmonies; pounding drums]
The house that walks at midnight
Has a hunger built of wood.
I thought I saw a shelter
Where no earthly shelter stood.
Run until your lungs are burning,
Run until the dawn breaks through—
You can leave the house behind you,
But the house can follow you.

[Bridge — half-time; fierce, defiant vocal]
Baba Yaga, keep your supper!
Keep your fire, keep your chair!
There are names cut in your table
And no guests left sitting there.
I won’t answer when you call me.
I won’t turn to see your face—
Then the front door opens gently
At the end of every escape.

[Instrumental Chase — frantic cimbalom lead; racing fiddle; double-time drums]

[Final Chorus — fast, desperate, towering]
The house that walks at midnight
Tears the branches from the sky.
I can hear the kettle boiling
Over every breath of mine.
Run until your lungs are burning,
Run until the dawn breaks through—
You can leave the house behind you,
But the house can follow you!

[Outro — sudden silence; a chair scrapes]
I never crossed her threshold.
I swear I never did.
Then why am I beside her fire—
And who just let me in?

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[Intro — creaking strings; solitary cimbalom] There was a light between the trees. I wish I’d let it be. [Verse 1 — low, intimate vocal; crooked fiddle] Past the last abandoned sawmill, Where the road ran out of stones, Stood a hut with shutters open, Warm enough to thaw my bones. One chair beside the firelight, One bowl beside the bread. I knocked and waited in the clearing— Not a word from those within. [Pre-Chorus — heavy footsteps enter the rhythm] I left it standing by the birches, Walked until the trees grew thin. Then heard a cupboard slam behind me— And smelled its chimney smoke again. [Chorus — enormous stomping riffs; soaring vocal] The house that walks at midnight Has a hunger built of wood. I thought I saw a shelter Where no earthly shelter stood. Run until your lungs are burning, Run until the dawn breaks through— You can leave the house behind you, But the house can follow you. [Verse 2 — grinding bass; fiddle answers each phrase] Two great feet tore free of bracken, Lifted all that rotten oak. In the window sat a woman, Stitching calmly through the smoke. Every stride shook cups and saucers, Every stomp split frozen clay. She drew another loop of scarlet, Never once looked up my way. [Pre-Chorus — strings tighten; drums build] She pulled the thread between her teeth; The path bent back beneath my feet. I marked a birch and passed it twice— Her window lit it from inside. [Chorus — wider harmonies; pounding drums] The house that walks at midnight Has a hunger built of wood. I thought I saw a shelter Where no earthly shelter stood. Run until your lungs are burning, Run until the dawn breaks through— You can leave the house behind you, But the house can follow you. [Bridge — half-time; fierce, defiant vocal] Baba Yaga, keep your supper! Keep your fire, keep your chair! There are names cut in your table And no guests left sitting there. I won’t answer when you call me. I won’t turn to see your face— Then the front door opens gently At the end of every escape. [Instrumental Chase — frantic cimbalom lead; racing fiddle; double-time drums] [Final Chorus — fast, desperate, towering] The house that walks at midnight Tears the branches from the sky. I can hear the kettle boiling Over every breath of mine. Run until your lungs are burning, Run until the dawn breaks through— You can leave the house behind you, But the house can follow you! [Outro — sudden silence; a chair scrapes] I never crossed her threshold. I swear I never did. Then why am I beside her fire— And who just let me in?

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