The Burner's Lullaby

[Intro — bone pipes alone, a lullaby too beautiful to trust; heartbeat drums underneath] [Verse 1 — Haggard, low and certain] Samhain night on the Hill of Tara, The High King's hall stands bright and tall — But the fire they lit ain't the one that's coming, When the fairy mound gives up its call. Out of the sídh at Finnachaid, Timpán strung and a burning breath, Comes the piper with the sweetest music — And his lullaby's the kiss of death. [Chorus — full band; Deadbeats join, already drowsy] Sleep, Tara, sleep — the Burner's playing, Close your eyes to the fairy's tune. Sleep, Tara, sleep — the timbers swaying, He'll have it burned down by the moon. Aillén! Aillén! The Burner's coming, Fire in his throat and song in the air — Sleep, Tara, sleep... [Verse 2 — Haggard] Twenty-three years, twenty-three burnings, Twenty-three times they built it high. Every Samhain the music found them, Every Samhain the mighty lie — Kings and warriors, bards and druids, All bowed down to the piper's art. Who can fight a tune that kills you, When the melody's a poisoned dart? [Chorus] Sleep, Tara, sleep — the Burner's playing, Close your eyes to the fairy's tune. Sleep, Tara, sleep — the timbers swaying, He'll have it burned down by the moon. Aillén! Aillén! The Burner's coming, Fire in his throat and song in the air — Sleep, Tara, sleep... [Bridge — the Lullaby: Bone Piper feature. Pipes alone, achingly sweet. The Deadbeats' harmonies droop, slow down, and trail off one by one, falling asleep mid-word] [Deadbeats, fading] Sleep... Ta-ra... sleep... [one voice, barely awake] ...sleep... [soft snoring; pipes play on alone] [Break — a sharp intake of breath. A spear scrapes. Someone refuses to sleep. Drums stop dead.] [Verse 3 — Fionn; Haggard sharper, younger fire] But one young wolf wouldn't close his eyes — Fionn mac Cumhaill, with a spear of pain, Breathed the venom from the poisoned point, And the lullaby shattered like iron rain. "Play your tune, you Burner bastard, Sing your sleep-song to the sky — I've got venom where you've got music, And tonight's the night your fire dies!" [Final chorus — battle erupts; full band at full fury] WAKE, Tara, WAKE — the Burner's bleeding! Fionn's spear has found the fairy's heart! WAKE, Tara, WAKE — the hall's not burning, Tear the twenty-fourth year apart! Aillén! Aillén! The Burner falling, Ash in his throat, song in the air — WAKE, Tara, WAKE! [Outro — bone pipes alone; the lullaby returns as a lament, fading to embers] [Haggard, fading] Twenty-three years... the piper's done... Sleep now, Burner... sleep...