The Black Ash Door (Version 2)

Intro

Ash wood. Iron key.

The gods grow old without me.

Verse 1

I keep the casket, I keep the key

Nine worlds lean on the gold I keep

Loki comes smiling, his hand in mine

He leads me out where the giant waits

An eagle's shadow on the barren ground

Talons close, and I make no sound

Pre-Chorus

Count the days

Watch them grey

Who holds the door

When I'm away

Chorus

The black ash door

The black ash door

I keep the years they were never meant to bear

Behind the black ash door

Verse 2

Freyr reaches for gold, and his hair turns grey

Thor lifts the hammer and his arms give way

Óðinn counts winters in his beard

The hall goes still as a frozen mere

Þjazi's tower, cold and high

I hold the gold where the eagles cry

Pre-Chorus

Count the days

Watch them grey

Who holds the door

When I'm away

Chorus

The black ash door

The black ash door

I keep the years they were never meant to bear

Behind the black ash door

Bridge – low, spoken

No hymn for the keeper

No stone with my name

The mathematics of mercy

One apple, one day

The function is simple

The hand works alone

Remove it, and watch

The gods turn to bone

Final Chorus

The black ash door

The black ash door

I keep the years they were never meant to bear

Behind the black ash door

Outro

Ash wood. Iron key.

The gods grow old without me.