Hammer Through the Night

[Intro – Rhythm Starts]
(Clang… clang… hiss…)
(Clang… clang… hiss…)
[DAVID (low):]
Don’t stop the fire—
[RICHARD (younger, steady):]
Don’t let it die—
(Clang… clang… hiss…)

[Verse 1]
We saw the line when the powder ran dry
Heard the breaking before the cry
Steel too slow and hands too few
So we build something stronger than what we knew
Measure the grain, pack it tight
Cut the paper, roll it right
Every inch and every breath—
We’re racing time, we’re racing death

[Pre-Chorus]
Hold it steady—strike it true
If it fails, it fails on you
No second chance, no wasted flame
Every mistake has got a name

[Chorus – Strong, Driving]
Hammer through the night—don’t break, don’t bend
Fire in the dark till the dark meets end
We don’t stop when the bodies fall—
We build the fire that outlives all
Strike for the line, for the ones who stand
For every empty, waiting hand
We don’t sleep, we don’t run—
We finish what they’ve begun

[Verse 2]
Barrel scorched and the metal screams
Nothing holds like it should in dreams
Test it once—misfire, spark
Try again in the choking dark
[RICHARD:]
Faster load—we can’t go slow
[DAVID:]
Faster’s useless if it won’t go
[Both:]
Find the balance, make it hold
Turn the fear into something cold

[Pre-Chorus]
Hands are shaking—keep them still
Skill is nothing without the will
Mark it, measure, cut it clean
Make it better than it’s ever been

[Chorus]
Hammer through the night—don’t break, don’t bend
Fire in the dark till the dark meets end
We don’t stop when the bodies fall—
We build the fire that outlives all
Strike for the line, for the ones who stand
For every empty, waiting hand
We don’t sleep, we don’t run—
We finish what they’ve begun

[Bridge – Father & Son Moment]
[RICHARD (quieter):]
Will it hold when they need it most?
[DAVID:]
It has to hold… or they’re all ghosts
(Clang… slower… heavier)
[DAVID:]
I’ve seen the wall when the fire’s gone
[RICHARD:]
Then we make sure the fire stays on
[Break – Rhythm Only]
(Clang—clang—clang—clang)
(Faster… faster…)
(Hiss—crack—ignite)

[Final Chorus – Full Power]
Hammer through the night—don’t break, don’t bend
Fire in the dark till the dark meets end
Let them come with their teeth and flame—
We’ll answer back in iron and rain
Strike for the line, for the ones who stand
For every loss we couldn’t stand
We don’t sleep, we don’t run—
We become what must be done

[Outro – Fading Work Rhythm]
(Clang… clang… hiss…)
[RICHARD (quiet):]
It’ll fire.
[DAVID:]
It has to.
(Final strike)

Industrial folk, male duet, hammer rhythm, forge sounds, relentless tempo, endurance anthem, dark epic build