[Intro | distant vihuela, wind, low synth drone] We saw the sky split open Over dunes of bone and gold The elders held their silence The children watched the cold A drum below the sand said, “Do not speak their names” Then thunder came in pieces Like glass inside a flame BGV: Oh— brittle thunder Oh— brittle thunder [Verse 1 | breathy vocal, chill synth, tribal percussion] We were born where the river forgot us Where the moon drinks dust from a broken cup Our tents were low, but our eyes were endless Reading war in the clouds above First came the god with the antlered lightning Blue fire braided through his hair Then came the queen of the black horizon Dragging stars through the upper air The camels screamed, the brass bowls trembled The vultures left their holy hill And every shadow in the canyon Bent its neck and waited still [Pre-Chorus | layered vocals, rising bass] Grandmother said, “Keep your face to the ground” But I looked up, I looked up Father said, “Gods do not bleed when they’re proud” But I saw red in the dust The sky was not heaven The sky was a wound And we were the witnesses Under the moon [Chorus | emotional beat, rave synths, punk-rock lift] Brittle thunder over us Heaven cracks and turns to rust Gods are fighting in the blue But their blood falls here too Brittle thunder, break and roll Shake the desert, shake my soul If they fall, what will we be? Just little sparks beneath their feet BGV: Oh—oh—oh, brittle thunder Oh—oh—oh, pull me under Oh—oh—oh, sky is breaking Oh—oh—oh, gods are shaking [Verse 2 | rhythmic rock, vihuela + deep bassline] We painted salt across our eyelids Tied red thread around our wrists Burned the myrrh and cracked the cedar Prayed the storm would not persist But the sun was swallowed sideways By a mouth of violet flame And the god of iron laughter Called the rain by its secret name A spear of dawn hit the mountain The mountain answered back in smoke The god with wings made out of locusts Spat a crown and nearly choked We heard the sax cry from nowhere Like a jackal learning grief And the blast beat rolled like hooves Through the roots of disbelief [Pre-Chorus 2 | tighter, more urgent] Mother said, “Do not bargain with power” But I raised both hands, both hands Brother said, “This is our final hour” I said, “Then let me stand” The sky was not mercy The sky was a blade And every prayer we carried Was sharpened in shade [Chorus | bigger, stacked harmonies] Brittle thunder over us Heaven cracks and turns to rust Gods are fighting in the blue But their blood falls here too Brittle thunder, break and roll Shake the desert, shake my soul If they fall, what will we be? Just little sparks beneath their feet BGV: Oh—oh—oh, brittle thunder Oh—oh—oh, pull me under Oh—oh—oh, sky is breaking Oh—oh—oh, gods are shaking [Freestyle Rap Bridge | half-time bass, mbalax percussion, gritty vocal] Dust in my teeth, got the storm in my chest Gods in the sky but the tribe don’t rest Barefoot prophet with a knife of bone Reading the clouds like a cracked headstone One god laughs, one god screams One god dies in a fever dream Gold rain falls on the burial ground We don’t bow, we don’t back down Tell the thunder I know its name Tell the lightning I kept its flame Tell the heavens when the war is through We were here when the old gods bruised No crown, no throne, no temple wall Just sand, just blood, just watching them fall If the sky wants war, let the sky come low We got drums in the dirt and fire below [Breakdown | blast beat + metal grunge guitars] Break— The— Cloud— Bone— Split— The— Sun— Stone— Gang vocal: We saw gods bleed! We saw gods bleed! We saw gods bleed! And still we breathe! [Final Chorus | full rave drop, sax ad-libs, choir layers] Brittle thunder over us Heaven cracks and turns to rust Gods are fighting in the blue But their blood falls here too Brittle thunder, break and roll Shake the desert, shake my soul If they fall, what will we be? Not little sparks— A burning sea BGV: Oh—oh—oh, brittle thunder Oh—oh—oh, pull me under Oh—oh—oh, sky is breaking Oh—oh—oh, we are waking [Outro | wind, vihuela, fading synth choir] When morning came, the sky was empty No throne, no crown, no name We gathered glass from the thunder And carried home the flame Whispered BGV: Brittle thunder Brittle thunder Brittle thunder Still we remain
