Loyd Hansens’ Viperborn Reptilian Lorescribes - 2. When the Last Bard Falls

[Intro – Gentle fingerpicked acoustic guitar, distant wind, soft medieval flute] [Verse 1 – Quiet, intimate male voice] The road is long, the night is cold I’ve walked these paths through years untold And every stone beneath my feet Remembers those I’ll never meet The fires have died in ancient halls The ivy climbs forgotten walls Yet somewhere in the fading light Their songs are carried through the night [Instrumental – Second acoustic guitar enters, soft harmonies] [Verse 2 – Warm, sorrowful storytelling] I knew a king who wore no crown I watched his mighty towers fall down He gave his sword unto the sea And asked that I remember thee I knew a girl with golden hair Who sang beneath the autumn air Her voice was lost to winter’s rain But in my dreams she sings again [Pre-Chorus – Soft layered male harmonies] And all the years have passed me by Like wandering clouds across the sky But still I hear the voices call Beyond the mountains, one and all [Chorus – Emotional soaring vocals, warm acoustic guitars, layered male choir] When the last bard falls Who will sing the ancient songs? Who will hear the distant calls Of the ones who’ve been gone so long? When the final fire fades And the stars forget to shine Will the stories of our days Live beyond the end of time? [Instrumental – Gentle medieval flute and acoustic guitar melody] [Verse 3 – More emotional, fragile voice] Beneath the seventh moon I stand With fading words within my hand The book is old, its pages torn Like promises of ages worn And if tomorrow brings the dawn To find the final singer gone Then let the wind across the sea Carry one last song from me [Pre-Chorus – Gradually building harmonies] For kings may fall and towers fade And all the swords of war be laid But not a thousand years of rain Can wash away a true refrain [Chorus – Stronger vocal delivery, expanding choir] When the last bard falls Who will sing the ancient songs? Who will hear the distant calls Of the ones who’ve been gone so long? When the final fire fades And the stars forget to shine Will the stories of our days Live beyond the end of time? [Bridge – Acoustic guitars soften, lone voice almost whispering] I see the faces in the fire I hear the voices of the choir And though my weary eyes grow dim I know the songs will live in him A child beside the dying flame Who softly whispers every name And takes the book from trembling hands To carry tales across the lands [Build Up – Layered acoustic guitars, rising male choir] [Lead Vocal] So let the mountains hear our song And let the rivers sing along For though the road may end for me The tale shall live eternally! [Choir – Majestic, emotional] We shall remember! We shall remain! Through endless winters! Through wind and rain! [Final Chorus – Powerful lead voice, massive acoustic bardic choir] When the last bard falls Someone sings the ancient songs Someone hears the distant calls And the voices carry on When the final fire fades And the stars forget to shine All the stories of our days Shall live beyond the end of time! [Outro – Choir slowly fades, returning to one acoustic guitar] [Soft Solo Vocal] The road is long, the night is cold But now another tale unfolds And when the seventh moon has gone The song remains… The song goes on… [Final acoustic guitar chord, long natural decay]