Ironbound Echoes of the Abyss

Lyrics

[Intro] [Tense silence broken by solitary hypnotic tribal floor toms, low grinding hurdy-gurdy drone enters] [Menacing post-punk bassline grooves at 130 bpm] [Verse 1] [Commanding icy female contralto, dry spoken-singing, clipped sharp consonants, venomous sneer] They say that those who crawl must gaze aloft towards the higher ways, and curse the stone on which they fell; they weave their pity like a spell. [Drums drop to a hollow rim-click, close-mic rasp] Yet not a drop of grief I spare – two turning wheels, the road laid bare. Two heavy oxen strain the wood, I mock the fates that thought they could, and raise my cup to make it clear: you’ll miss the jest if you come near! [Pre-Chorus] [Dissonant scraping rebec fiddles rise, relentless building tension, pounding tribal pulse] Save up your tears to grace the grave! I shall not rise! I shall not crave! The yew-bow bends, the cord takes wing – [Hard track stop, absolute dead silence] ...now hear the ancient timber sing! [Chorus] [Explosive dynamic shockwave: Roaring hurdy-gurdy wall, shrieking fiddles, thunderous tribal drums] [Fierce operatic post-punk wail, immense smoky resonance] High-built ramparts, bitter fall! I take to flight above you all! Iron fetters everywhere! Free as the hawk within the air! The wide earth heeds the bolder hand, though mud and mire claim the land! Come, fill the horn and let it clink to what no crowned king can think! [Post-Chorus] [Heavy swaggering bass groove, grinding wheel, savage tom-tom rhythm] [Verse 2] [Sudden drop to sparse cold space, deep bowed cello and clicking wood, detached mocking tone] They speak in pride of sturdy gait, and strides that march to meet their fate; yet in the gaze that seeks my seat, the swiftest runner finds defeat. I rest upon my throne of oak, no master bids me bear a yoke. And should you crave my hearth’s embrace... then hear me true and show your face! [Pre-Chorus] [Tribal drums accelerate, rebecs shriek aggressively] Keep all your mercy for the night! I’ve set the wandering fools alight! A steady shaft, a word unbound – [Hard cut] to chase the gloom into the ground! [Chorus] [Maximum gothic explosion, ferocious driving tribal energy, cavernous reverb, towering vocal belt] High-built ramparts, bitter fall! I take to flight above you all! Iron fetters everywhere! Free as the hawk within the air! The wide earth heeds the bolder hand, though mud and mire claim the land! Come, fill the horn and let it clink to what no crowned king can think! [Bridge] [Full-track drop to total stillness, solitary cold dulcimer strike] [Low, smoky, chillingly intimate whisper] (whispering) There lies a grief that never fades, untouched by time or quiet shades. Yet take my fingers in the light... (breathless, biting laugh) ...and weep no gentle tears tonight! [Massive thunderous drum slam!] [Final Chorus] [Furious climactic peak: Full ensemble roaring at maximum intensity, wailing rebecs, untamed feral belt] High-built ramparts, bitter fall! I take to flight above you all! Iron fetters everywhere! Free as the hawk within the air! The wide earth heeds the bolder hand, though mud and mire claim the land! Come, fill the horn and let it clink to what no crowned king can think! [Outro] [Relentless tribal drum groove marches forward, screeching fiddle feedback slowly fades] [Commanding spoken whisper, sharp received pronunciation] On iron-bound wheels... through time and tide. [Final dry wooden impact] [Silence] [End]