[Verse 1]
Snow on the cairns
Blood in the grain
Iron in my hands
Old
Aching names
Ravens in circles
Over burned pine
Your oath on your tongue
My knife in your spine
[Chorus]
We are the ashes in the root
Buried deep
Still burning through
Hear the hills
They call your debt
Every wound
I don't forget
We are the ashes in the root
From broken branch to bitter fruit
You can pray
You can beg
But the earth will take its share
[Verse 2]
Fire in the hall
Smoke in our lungs
Ghosts at the table
Salt on our tongues
You sold our winter
For one bright crown
Now frost-bitten children
Drag your banners down
[Chorus]
We are the ashes in the root
Buried deep
Still burning through
Hear the hills
They call your debt
Every wound
I don't forget
We are the ashes in the root
From broken branch to bitter fruit
You can pray
You can beg
But the earth will take its share
[Bridge]
[Drums drop to a slow
Stomping pulse; folk strings enter]
Stone under stone under bone
The past hums low in the loam (hey!)
Your throne is a rotten tree
And my rage is the creeping weed
[Chorus]
We are the ashes in the root
Buried deep
Still burning through
Hear the hills
They call your debt
Every wound
I don't forget
We are the ashes in the root
From broken branch to bitter fruit
You can run
You can tear
But the earth will take its share