Bjorn Bonebreaker's Vow

Lyrics

[Verse 1] The ferry rope was stiff with ice You tied my sleeve against the wind At dawn the harbor vanished white I swore I'd come the way I went Your brass key hangs beside the stove Your wool scarf waits across the chair I carry both through buried roads As if your hands were waiting there [Pre-Chorus] The pines lean low, the rivers close Still every mile knows where I go [Chorus] When winter lays its weight on me When every track is lost in snow Bjorn Bonebreaker, hear my vow: I'll be by your side when I get home Past frozen fields, past iron skies Through every night the north winds roam Keep one warm place beside the fire I'll be by your side when I get home [Verse 2] At Hauk's old mill I traded leather For bread enough to make it through A farmer shared his roof and embers Asked who kept my courage true I told him of your steady hands That mended nets and mended me He poured one cup, then faced the pass And said, go home before the thawing sea [Pre-Chorus] The pines lean low, the rivers close Still every mile knows where I go [Chorus] When winter lays its weight on me When every track is lost in snow Bjorn Bonebreaker, hear my vow: I'll be by your side when I get home Past frozen fields, past iron skies Through every night the north winds roam Keep one warm place beside the fire I'll be by your side when I get home [Bridge] If my boots fail, I'll crawl the last hill If the road breaks, I'll follow the stream No crown, no feast could call me away You are the place I have carried in me [Final Chorus] When winter lays its weight on me And dawn comes thin above the snow Bjorn Bonebreaker, here I am: I'll be by your side, I'm home Past frozen fields, the north wind dies Your door swings wide, the hearth burns gold Keep both your hands around my own I'll be by your side; I'm home [Outro] The brass key turns, the door gives way Your wool scarf falls across my shoulder The long road ends before the fire I'm home, I'm home