The Man Who Never Came Back

Ron Ferguson

Ron1

Ron Ferguson

Outlaw Voodoo Blues, Cinematic Western

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[INTRO — FROZEN OUTLAW VOODOO WESTERN | 6/8 ~76 BPM | sparse DREADNOUGHT | low five-string bass | wind | RESONATOR foreground]
[RESONATOR — contaminated 1–♭2–♭3–4–♭5–5–6 | long ♭2→1]
[MALE BARITONE — cold, restrained]
Verse 1 — Above the Trees
Three days since we'd seen timber.
Five since we'd seen running water.
Nothing north but rock and white
And sky pulled tight above us.
Found a deer frozen standing,
Eyes wide open toward the north.
No wound.
No blood.
No tracks around it.
Coley said,
“Keep moving.”
[RESONATOR — ♭5→5→6]
Found six ravens on the seventh day
Lying perfect in a row.
Jack asked, “Cold?”
Coley answered,
“Ravens know.”
Refrain
Up where nothing ought to follow,
Something follows just the same.
Up where nothing ought to know you—
[♭2→1]
Something knows your name.
Verse 2 — The Fire
That night nobody slept much.
Fire burned but gave no heat.
Horses faced the same direction.
Wouldn't drink and wouldn't eat.
Just before the morning broke,
Jack heard footsteps past the light.
One.
Then two.
Then silence.
Rifle raised—
A voice said:
“Jack?”
[ALL DROP]
Jack:
“Who's there?”
The stranger stepped into the fire.
Beard gone white.
Black coat torn.
Winter eyes.
Verse 3 — Benjamin
Coley dropped his rifle halfway.
Whispered,
“Ben?”
Man smiled.
“Been a while.”
Jack stared.
Coley said,
“Benjamin Winter disappeared
Ten years ago this spring.”
Benjamin looked at Jack.
“Eli's boy?”
Jack:
“His bastard.”
Benjamin:
“Still Eli's boy.”
[TELECASTER — first warm 5→6]
Jack swallowed.
“You're my uncle.”
Ben shrugged.
“Seems I am.”
Verse 4
They gave him coffee.
Ben didn't drink.
Gave him jerky.
Wouldn't eat.
Coley asked the only question
Every Crow there wanted answered:
“Ben... how in God's name
Did you live ten years out here?”
Benjamin watched the darkness.
[LONG PAUSE]
“I—”
[HORSE SCREAMS]
[RESONATOR — VIOLENT ♭2→1]
Benjamin stands.
“Too late.”
The Warning
[6/8 pulse begins accelerating in FEEL, not tempo]
“Put the fire out.”
Coley:
“What?”
“NOW.”
Ben chambers his rifle.
From somewhere beyond the ridge:
[ICE SCRAPING | MANY UNEVEN FOOTSTEPS]
Jack:
“How many?”
Benjamin:
“Enough.”
Coley:
“Pale Riders?”
Benjamin:
“Worse for you.
The things they send ahead.”
Battle
[SAME 6/8 → DOUBLE-TIME FEEL | low drums erupt]
Shapes came stumbling through the white,
Men that should've stayed beneath it,
Broken antlers, ruined faces,
Frozen mouths that didn't breathe.
Crow rifles cracked.
One fell backward.
[PAUSE]
Got back up.
Jack fired twice.
Coley yelled,
“HEAD! PUT 'EM DOWN!”
[TELECASTER — frantic ♭5→5]
[RESONATOR — dissonant ♭2 against tonic]
Dead things poured across the ridge.
Not charging.
Not screaming.
Just coming.
Instrumental — The Dead Walk
[DOUBLE-TIME 6/8 | DREADNOUGHT galloping low strings]
[RESONATOR FEATURE — contaminated VOODOO, savage ♭2→1 / ♭5→5→6 bends]
[TELECASTER — human 1–♭3–4–5 fighting against resonator]
[MINOR HARMONICA — sustained tonic, increasingly buried]
[RIFLE VOLLEYS integrated rhythmically]
Bridge — Forest Folk
Benjamin grabbed Jack's coat.
“Listen.”
“What?”
“Southwest. Get below the snow.
Find the forest.”
Coley shouted,
“There ain't forest for fifty miles!”
Ben:
“Then run fifty miles.”
Jack:
“What's there?”
Benjamin looked behind him.
“Forest folk.”
Jack:
“Who the hell are forest folk?”
[PAUSE]
Benjamin almost laughed.
“Good question.”
Another wave appeared.
Ben shoved Jack toward his horse.
“Ask them.”
Verse 5 — Benjamin Winter
[DOUBLE-TIME continues]
Coley yelled, “Ben, MOVE!”
Benjamin fired.
“I'll follow.”
Jack knew a lie when he heard one.
“Uncle—”
Ben turned.
For one instant Jack saw Eli
Thirty years younger in his face.
Benjamin smiled.
“Tell my brother—”
He stopped.
Remembered.
Jack understood.
Ben looked down.
“Right.”
[PAUSE]
Then raised his rifle.
“Tell him yourself someday.”
Final Chorus
[CROWS flee | pounding 6/8]
Down where something still is living,
Down where black trees break the white,
Ride until the horses founder,
Ride until you find the night.
Don't look back.
Don't count the gunshots.
Don't ask why they cease.
Find the folk beneath the forest—
[RESONATOR — ♭2→1]
If they'll let you see.
Outro
[HOOFBEATS + WIND | gunshots behind them]
One shot.
Two.
Three.
[LONGER GAP]
Four.
Jack turns in saddle.
Coley:
“DON'T.”
Another shot.
Then another.
Then—
[LONG SILENCE]
Nothing.
[HOOFBEATS continue]
Jack:
“Coley...
Who are the forest folk?”
Coley breathes hard.
“Boy, until tonight
I thought they were a story.”
[RESONATOR — ♭5→5→6]
Jack:
“And Benjamin?”
[PAUSE]
Coley:
“So was he.”
[RESONATOR — ♭2→1]
[WIND]

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[INTRO — FROZEN OUTLAW VOODOO WESTERN | 6/8 ~76 BPM | sparse DREADNOUGHT | low five-string bass | wind | RESONATOR foreground] [RESONATOR — contaminated 1–♭2–♭3–4–♭5–5–6 | long ♭2→1] [MALE BARITONE — cold, restrained] Verse 1 — Above the Trees Three days since we'd seen timber. Five since we'd seen running water. Nothing north but rock and white And sky pulled tight above us. Found a deer frozen standing, Eyes wide open toward the north. No wound. No blood. No tracks around it. Coley said, “Keep moving.” [RESONATOR — ♭5→5→6] Found six ravens on the seventh day Lying perfect in a row. Jack asked, “Cold?” Coley answered, “Ravens know.” Refrain Up where nothing ought to follow, Something follows just the same. Up where nothing ought to know you— [♭2→1] Something knows your name. Verse 2 — The Fire That night nobody slept much. Fire burned but gave no heat. Horses faced the same direction. Wouldn't drink and wouldn't eat. Just before the morning broke, Jack heard footsteps past the light. One. Then two. Then silence. Rifle raised— A voice said: “Jack?” [ALL DROP] Jack: “Who's there?” The stranger stepped into the fire. Beard gone white. Black coat torn. Winter eyes. Verse 3 — Benjamin Coley dropped his rifle halfway. Whispered, “Ben?” Man smiled. “Been a while.” Jack stared. Coley said, “Benjamin Winter disappeared Ten years ago this spring.” Benjamin looked at Jack. “Eli's boy?” Jack: “His bastard.” Benjamin: “Still Eli's boy.” [TELECASTER — first warm 5→6] Jack swallowed. “You're my uncle.” Ben shrugged. “Seems I am.” Verse 4 They gave him coffee. Ben didn't drink. Gave him jerky. Wouldn't eat. Coley asked the only question Every Crow there wanted answered: “Ben... how in God's name Did you live ten years out here?” Benjamin watched the darkness. [LONG PAUSE] “I—” [HORSE SCREAMS] [RESONATOR — VIOLENT ♭2→1] Benjamin stands. “Too late.” The Warning [6/8 pulse begins accelerating in FEEL, not tempo] “Put the fire out.” Coley: “What?” “NOW.” Ben chambers his rifle. From somewhere beyond the ridge: [ICE SCRAPING | MANY UNEVEN FOOTSTEPS] Jack: “How many?” Benjamin: “Enough.” Coley: “Pale Riders?” Benjamin: “Worse for you. The things they send ahead.” Battle [SAME 6/8 → DOUBLE-TIME FEEL | low drums erupt] Shapes came stumbling through the white, Men that should've stayed beneath it, Broken antlers, ruined faces, Frozen mouths that didn't breathe. Crow rifles cracked. One fell backward. [PAUSE] Got back up. Jack fired twice. Coley yelled, “HEAD! PUT 'EM DOWN!” [TELECASTER — frantic ♭5→5] [RESONATOR — dissonant ♭2 against tonic] Dead things poured across the ridge. Not charging. Not screaming. Just coming. Instrumental — The Dead Walk [DOUBLE-TIME 6/8 | DREADNOUGHT galloping low strings] [RESONATOR FEATURE — contaminated VOODOO, savage ♭2→1 / ♭5→5→6 bends] [TELECASTER — human 1–♭3–4–5 fighting against resonator] [MINOR HARMONICA — sustained tonic, increasingly buried] [RIFLE VOLLEYS integrated rhythmically] Bridge — Forest Folk Benjamin grabbed Jack's coat. “Listen.” “What?” “Southwest. Get below the snow. Find the forest.” Coley shouted, “There ain't forest for fifty miles!” Ben: “Then run fifty miles.” Jack: “What's there?” Benjamin looked behind him. “Forest folk.” Jack: “Who the hell are forest folk?” [PAUSE] Benjamin almost laughed. “Good question.” Another wave appeared. Ben shoved Jack toward his horse. “Ask them.” Verse 5 — Benjamin Winter [DOUBLE-TIME continues] Coley yelled, “Ben, MOVE!” Benjamin fired. “I'll follow.” Jack knew a lie when he heard one. “Uncle—” Ben turned. For one instant Jack saw Eli Thirty years younger in his face. Benjamin smiled. “Tell my brother—” He stopped. Remembered. Jack understood. Ben looked down. “Right.” [PAUSE] Then raised his rifle. “Tell him yourself someday.” Final Chorus [CROWS flee | pounding 6/8] Down where something still is living, Down where black trees break the white, Ride until the horses founder, Ride until you find the night. Don't look back. Don't count the gunshots. Don't ask why they cease. Find the folk beneath the forest— [RESONATOR — ♭2→1] If they'll let you see. Outro [HOOFBEATS + WIND | gunshots behind them] One shot. Two. Three. [LONGER GAP] Four. Jack turns in saddle. Coley: “DON'T.” Another shot. Then another. Then— [LONG SILENCE] Nothing. [HOOFBEATS continue] Jack: “Coley... Who are the forest folk?” Coley breathes hard. “Boy, until tonight I thought they were a story.” [RESONATOR — ♭5→5→6] Jack: “And Benjamin?” [PAUSE] Coley: “So was he.” [RESONATOR — ♭2→1] [WIND]

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