[Intro - Slow, solemn drum. A single bell toll. Then EXPLOSIVE ENERGY.]
[Somber voice, then shouted]
They went out hunting... and never came home...
[Everyone]
BUT WE REMEMBER! WE REMEMBER!
ONE MORE ROUND! ONE MORE ROUND!
[Chorus - Thunderous, stomping, glasses raised]
ONE MORE ROUND! (ONE MORE ROUND!)
FOR THE FALLEN! (FOR THE FALLEN!)
ONE MORE ROUND! (ONE MORE ROUND!)
TILL WE'RE CALLIN'! (TILL WE'RE CALLIN'!)
OUT TO THE MONSTERS WHO TOOK 'EM AWAY!
WE'LL DRINK AND WE'LL HUNT AND WE'LL LIVE ANOTHER DAY!
[Verse 1 - Solo voice, respectful]
I remember Kellen, greatsword in hand
Faced a Diablos in the desert sand
He dodged its charge, he broke its horn
But never made it back that morn
We found his blade half-buried deep
A promise that we swore to keep
To drink his name and tell his tale
So his memory would never fail
[Chorus]
ONE MORE ROUND! (ONE MORE ROUND!)
FOR THE FALLEN! (FOR THE FALLEN!)
ONE MORE ROUND! (ONE MORE ROUND!)
TILL WE'RE CALLIN'! (TILL WE'RE CALLIN'!)
OUT TO THE MONSTERS WHO TOOK 'EM AWAY!
WE'LL DRINK AND WE'LL HUNT AND WE'LL LIVE ANOTHER DAY!
[Verse 2 - Another solo voice]
I remember Mira, light bowgun fast
A Rathalos caught her with a blast
She shot it down before she fell
Her final act, her final spell
Her Palico brought her home to us
We laid her down without a fuss
And now we drink to her each year
So every hunter knows she's here
[Pre-Chorus - Building, somber then rising]
They hunt no more... (THEY HUNT NO MORE)
Their trails are cold... (THEIR TRAILS ARE COLD)
But in our cups... (BUT IN OUR CUPS)
Their names are told... (THEIR NAMES ARE TOLD)
[Bridge - Slows, spoken word over soft music]
[Elderly Wyverian voice, ancient and warm]
I've drunk this toast a thousand times. A thousand hunters. A thousand names.
[Raises glass slowly]
...a thousand more to come.
[Pause]
But tonight? Tonight we remember the thousand who aren't.
[Band kicks back in, HEAVY]
SO RAISE 'EM HIGH!
[Verse 3 - Rowdy, powerful, everyone singing]
SO RAISE YOUR GLASS TO THOSE WHO FELL!
TO EVERY HUNTER'S FINAL BELL!
TO EVERY MONSTER THAT TOOK ITS PRIDE!
TO EVERY FALLEN, WE'LL NEVER HIDE!
WE'LL DRINK AND LAUGH AND SING AND CRY!
WE'LL LIFT OUR VOICES TO THE SKY!
AND WHEN OUR TIME COMES, WE'LL JOIN THEM THERE!
WITH GLASSES RAISED AND NOT A CARE!
[Guitar Solo - Rowdy but respectful, melodic]
[Breakdown - Stomping, chanting, cathartic]
FOR KELLEN! (FOR KELLEN!)
FOR MIRA! (FOR MIRA!)
FOR EVERY HUNTER! (EVERY HUNTER!)
WHO WENT HIGHER! (WHO WENT HIGHER!)
FOR THE FALLEN! (FOR THE FALLEN!)
WE DRINK TONIGHT! (WE DRINK TONIGHT!)
AND TOMORROW? WE FIGHT!
[Final Chorus - Massive, tearful, triumphant]
ONE MORE ROUND! (ONE MORE ROUND!)
FOR THE FALLEN! (FOR THE FALLEN!)
ONE MORE ROUND! (ONE MORE ROUND!)
TILL WE'RE CALLIN'! (TILL WE'RE CALLIN'!)
OUT TO THE MONSTERS WHO TOOK 'EM AWAY!
WE'LL DRINK AND WE'LL HUNT AND WE'LL LIVE ANOTHER—
[Outro - Soft, single voice, fading]
...day.
[Long pause]
For Kellen. For Mira. For all of them.
…we remember
AsheTheHyena
