THE BEAR AND THE LAMB [Intro — low female chant, distant wind and bells] In the winter beneath the mountain, Where the old pines bend and pray, A mother Bear found a little lamb Who had wandered from the flock that day. She gathered him against her fur, And carried him through snow, She gave him honey from her paw And a hollow warm below. She taught him where the rivers ran, Where berries hid from frost, She stood between him and the wolves And never cared what it cost. And the lamb would sleep against her heart, Beneath the moonlit trees, While mother Bear hummed Old songs upon the breeze. [Chorus] Hush, little lamb, the night is wide, Stay in my shadow, stay by my side. Warm in my fur, safe in my care, No wolf, no winter can find you there. Hush, little lamb, close your eyes, I am the moon in your skies. While the cold claws at the frozen ground, My heart will keep you safe and sound. [Verse 2 — warmer, almost tender] The lamb grew through summer rain, His fleece became a cloud, He followed where his mother walked And bleated soft and proud. He called her Mother without doubt. She answered every call. And when he stumbled on the stones, The Bear would catch him before he fall. She taught him songs the bears had sung Since mountains first were born. She showed him how the morning tasted, How to greet the dawn. And sometimes, when the evening came, He'd catch her staring long— As if the scent of something warm Had drifted through her song. Her mouth would water in the dark; She'd turn her face away. Then press her nose against his wool And kiss his brow to stay. But he was only little lamb. He trusted what he knew. [Pre-Chorus — ominous] The snow returned. The berries died. The river turned to stone. The Bear grew quiet by the fire And watched him sleep alone. Her claws sank softly in the floor. Her breath came deep and slow. She counted every rib beneath The fleece she'd grown to know. [Chorus — darker reprise] Hush, little lamb, the night is wide, Stay in my shadow, stay by my side. Warm in my fur, safe in my care, No wolf, no winter can find you there. Hush, little lamb, close your eyes, I am the moon within your skies. While the cold claws at the frozen ground, My hunger wakes when you are found. [Bridge — nearly whispered] “Mother… why are you crying?” The Bear looked toward the floor. “Because, my little lamb,” she said, “I cannot lie anymore.” “You taught me how to climb the hills. You taught me not to flee.” “I taught you how to live,” she said. “Now you must feed me.” [Instrumental swell — drums like a heartbeat] The lamb stepped back. The Bear stepped near. Her empty belly groaned. He finally understood. All those years beneath her paw— All that love— All that good— Were never false. That was the horror. She loved him as a mother could. And hunger loved him too. It had waited through the thaw and bloom, It had slept beneath her skin. Each kiss had held a hidden ache; Each lullaby, a hymn. [Final Chorus — huge, tragic] Run, little lamb, the night is wide, Run from the shadow, run from my side. Warm was my fur, safe was my care, But hunger has found you hiding there. Run, little lamb, don't close your eyes, I am the moon that learned to lie. The cold may claw the frozen ground, But my hunger has found you now. Run, little lamb, run if you can, The mother ends where hunger began. I gave you shelter, gave you breath, I gave you life— I give you death. Forgive me, lamb, beneath the moon, I knew this day would come too soon. I smelled your warmth through winter's white, And dreamed of this each starless night. You were my child. You were my pride. You were the love I could not hide. And now— come here. [Outro — quiet, ancient female voice] The mountain heard one final cry. The snow began to fall. And when the dawn rose pale and gold, Mother Bear stood alone. She licked the blood from off her paw, Then wept beside the stone. For even mothers may love their prey. And love does not make hunger go away.
