[Verse 1]
She came in with snow on her sleeve
And a map full of names
He swore he could build her a world
Out of iron and flame
By the blackwater shore
They were gold in the dark
Two bright hands on a crown
And a knife in the heart
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, she held the line
He held the door
They kept on saying
There would be more
Then the banners changed
And the winter rose
One kiss on the stone
Then the tower closed
[Chorus]
For the love, for the love, for the love
She wore the crown, then it broke
For the love, for the love, for the love
Now the north wind takes her hope
New empire, new empire
Built on a trembling flame
New empire, new empire
And she still calls his name
[Verse 2]
The halls filled up with men
From the river and ridge
With their wolf-bone charms
And their ashwood pitch
They drank from her glass
They praised her by night
Then they split at the seam
When the dawn hit the ice
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, she saw it first
In the torchlight glow
Greed in the smiles
Under frost and smoke
He reached for her hand
But the ground gave way
And the sons of the north
Left her alone to stay
[Chorus]
For the love, for the love, for the love
She wore the crown, then it broke
For the love, for the love, for the love
Now the north wind takes her hope
New empire, new empire
Built on a trembling flame
New empire, new empire
And she still calls his name
[Bridge]
Now the ravens feast
On the feast-day gold
And the banners hang
Like a story told
She stands in the ash
With her chin held high
One hand on the ruin
One hand on the sky
[Final Chorus]
For the love, for the love, for the love
She wore the crown, then it broke
For the love, for the love, for the love
Now the north wind takes her hope
New empire, new empire
Built on a trembling flame
New empire, new empire
And she still calls his name