July

[Intro] [Orchestra swells, bright strings] [Female vocal, jubilant, full of life] The sun stands still at its highest throne Everything alive, fully grown (fully grown) He's dancing wild in the summer heat The Green Man crowned, his reign complete (crowned in green) [Verse 1 - Female] [Full orchestra, celebratory] I found him laughing in the fullest bloom Every leaf and flower fills the room (fills the world) Green Man reigning at his peak of power Solstice sun blessing every golden hour (longest day) Summer embodies abundance and growth Peak of life and fertility both (both, both) My mother said this moment doesn't last So taste the honey while it's here, not past (drink it in) [Verse 2 - Male falsetto, triumphant] [Strings soar, brass enters] I walked the gardens where my grandfather grew He said the work of seasons all comes through (comes to fruit) Every spring's promise realized right here The table set with everything we hold dear (gathered close) Shadow figure clothed in fruits and grain Celebrating what the cycle's made plain (made it clear) Jung would call him archetype of wholeness The fullness that comes after all the coldness (after winter) [Chorus - Both, harmonized, symphonic climax] [Full orchestra, timpani, triumphant] He's the jubilant one in July skies (jubilant king) Teaching us that abundance multiplies (share it all) Seventy-eight tie-dye and sunshine bright (golden days) Living fully in the endless light (endless now) We're the children of the ripened time (harvest close) Neither ancient ritual nor modern paradigm (what are we?) He's calling from the fruit and gold (calling us) July jubilant, the story told (cycle complete) [Bridge - Orchestral interlude, bittersweet turn] [Strings shift minor, preparing transition] [Both, sung with growing awareness] But in the ripening, the first signs show (show the truth) That nothing stays at peak, we know (we know) The longest day means nights grow longer still (growing dark) August comes with autumn's chill (turning now) [Final Chorus - Both, celebrating and releasing] [Orchestra swells one last time] He's the jubilant one in July skies (jubilant king) Teaching us that abundance multiplies (share it all) Seventy-eight tie-dye and sunshine bright (fading gold) Living fully in the endless light (light's retreating) We're the children of the ripened time (ripened full) Neither ancient ritual nor modern paradigm (caught between) He's calling from the fruit and gold (one last call) July jubilant, before the cold (before the turn) [Outro - Transitioning to autumn] [Orchestra fades, acoustic guitar returns alone] [Female, wistful] The sun begins its slow descent from throne (descending now) [Male, harmonizing, distant] The Green Man knows he cannot stay at home (must retreat) [Both, together, accepting] The wheel keeps turning, summer fades to rust (turning back) July jubilant, we held it as we must (held it close) [Strings return melancholic, preparing autumn] [Whispered, fading] September's calling from the changing leaves (calling us home) The cycle starts again with autumn's breeze (starts again) [Orchestra fades to single cello, then silence] [End]