E KALI BIBI — THE CURSE OF THE BLACK MOON

[INTRO – SOLO WILD BALKAN VIOLIN, HOWLING WIND] [LOW CELLO DRONE, DISTANT CHURCH BELLS, CREAKING WOOD] [OLD MALE STORYTELLER – DEEP AND SINISTER] They dragged her through the village square, With tangled roots entwined in her hair. She laughed as the gallows cut the sky… And cursed them all before she died. [VERSE 1 – CROOKED BALKAN WALTZ, DARK MALE BARITONE] She lived where the blackthorn choked the lane, Where dead leaves danced in the acid rain. They called her witch, they called her vile, But she only answered with a smile. She knew the names that graves conceal, The secret wounds that would never heal. And as the rope pulled tight that night, She spat three words at the fading light. [PRE-CHORUS – VIOLIN TREMOLO, LOW MALE CHOIR] O Del, look down, but turn your face! No holy hand can save this place! She raised her fist, the moon turned red… And every living soul heard what she said! [CHORUS – HUGE, HAUNTING MALE CHOIR, FAST BALKAN RHYTHM] KARA VESHA! MORI KRAI! THUNDER BELOW AND BLOOD IN THE SKY! DROMA VESHA! TARA NAI! THE DEAD SHALL DANCE AND THE LIVING SHALL CRY! KARA VESHA! MORI KRAI! NO SUN SHALL RISE, NO SOUL SHALL FLY! VESHA! VESHA! NARA VON! WHEN THE BLACK MOON CALLS — YOU ALL BELONG! [INSTRUMENTAL – FRENZIED BALKAN VIOLIN SOLO, DARK ACCORDION, LOW PERCUSSION] [VERSE 2 – THEATRICAL STORYTELLER, MORE MENACING] At midnight sharp, the wells ran dry, Black feathers rained from a blood-red sky. The church bells rang beneath the ground, While headless horses circled round. The baker woke with dirt in his bed, His wife heard singing from the dead. The children saw their mothers grin… With something else beneath their skin. [PRE-CHORUS – STOMPING FEET, BUILDING CHOIR] O Del, look down, the hour is near! The wind speaks words no soul should hear! From every chimney, from every stone, Her curse has claimed what once was home! [CHORUS – FULL MALE CHOIR, WILD AND CATCHY] KARA VESHA! MORI KRAI! THUNDER BELOW AND BLOOD IN THE SKY! DROMA VESHA! TARA NAI! THE DEAD SHALL DANCE AND THE LIVING SHALL CRY! KARA VESHA! MORI KRAI! NO SUN SHALL RISE, NO SOUL SHALL FLY! VESHA! VESHA! NARA VON! WHEN THE BLACK MOON CALLS — YOU ALL BELONG! [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK – SOLO VIOLIN, ACCORDION, DISTANT WOMAN'S LAUGHTER] [BRIDGE – MUSIC DROPS TO SOLO CELLO AND WHISPERED MALE VOICE] They dug her up when the plague came round, To burn her bones beneath holy ground. But where she lay, there was no face… Just a black rose growing in her place. [THREE SLOW KNOCKS – COMPLETE SILENCE] [OLD WOMAN'S WHISPER] You should have let me die. [FINAL CHORUS – FASTER, GRANDER, NEARLY MANIC] KARA VESHA! MORI KRAI! THUNDER BELOW AND BLOOD IN THE SKY! DROMA VESHA! TARA NAI! THE DEAD SHALL DANCE AND THE LIVING SHALL CRY! KARA VESHA! MORI KRAI! NO SUN SHALL RISE, NO SOUL SHALL FLY! VESHA! VESHA! NARA VON! THE CURSE IS DONE — AND THE NIGHT LIVES ON! [OUTRO – SOLO VIOLIN SLOWLY FALLING OUT OF TUNE] [DEEP MALE WHISPER] One village silent. One blackened tree. [OLD WOMAN'S VOICE, RIGHT BEHIND THE LISTENER] And now… [PAUSE] …I know where you sleep. [ONE FINAL VIOLIN NOTE – CUT TO SILENCE]