[Verse 1]
Long were his miles
Dust in his beard
Boots full of grit
Eyes worn and tired
He found our town
At the edge of the marsh
We said, “Turn back now”
He laughed in the dark
[Pre-Chorus]
Don’t take Arrow Road
Don’t follow that bend
There’s teeth in the hedges
And a grave at the end
Don’t take Arrow Road
Hear the old folks plead
The road knows your name
And it feeds when you bleed
[Chorus]
Arrow Road, turn back
Arrow Road, turn back
Arrow Road, turn back
Or the road takes you
Arrow Road, turn back
Arrow Road, turn back
Arrow Road, turn back
And the dark comes through
[Verse 2]
He asked for water
We gave him none
He wanted the map
He wanted the sun
Old men crossed themselves
Women shut the gate
He rode on smiling
Too proud to wait
[Pre-Chorus]
Don’t take Arrow Road
Don’t trust the mile
It bends like a promise
Then breaks in a while
Don’t take Arrow Road
It swallows the brave
It drinks up the lantern
And hollows the grave
[Chorus]
Arrow Road, turn back
Arrow Road, turn back
Arrow Road, turn back
Or the road takes you
Arrow Road, turn back
Arrow Road, turn back
Arrow Road, turn back
And the dark comes through
[Bridge]
Then came the lady
White as bone
Perfume of ruin
Voice like stone
She called him sweetly
“Come, weary one”
With hair like moonlit ash
And a hand that shone
He bowed to her mercy
He knelt in the sand
But her smile was a noose
And her kiss was a brand
A false damsel
A face made to break
She led him to the ditch
Where the crows were awake
[Chorus]
Arrow Road, turn back
Arrow Road, turn back
Arrow Road, turn back
Or the road takes you
Arrow Road, turn back
Arrow Road, turn back
Arrow Road, turn back
And the dark comes through
[Outro]
Now when the wind claws
Through the reeds at night
We hear his last crying
Lost from our sight
So mark this warning
And keep it alive
Do not trust the beauty
That waits by the drive