[Verse 1]
’61
We lit the fire
Brand new team in frozen air
Purple pride
A Norseman banner
Every yard a little prayer
First snap
Rookie named Tarkenton
Running wild
Drawing lines in the snow
Purple People Eaters coming
“You meet the runner
” let him know
[Chorus]
I wear the purple pain
Cold hands
Warm heart
In the rain
Metrodome roar
New school
Same name
We get so close
Then start again
From Bud to Grant to new domains
Yeah
This is how we live our days
Heartbreak
Hope
That purple strain
I wear
I wear the purple pain
[Verse 2]
Four big Sundays
Came up empty
Steel and silver
Slipped away
But the defense carved a legend
Tough as January gray
Moss and Carter
Sky’s the limit
’98 felt like a dream
Kick goes wide
The whole state silent
Learning what forever means
[Chorus]
I wear the purple pain
Cold hands
Warm heart
In the rain
Metrodome roar
New school
Same name
We get so close
Then start again
From Favre’s throw across the grain
To Blair’s miss that froze our veins
Still every fall we board that train
I wear
I wear the purple pain
[Bridge]
New house
Glass roof
Same story (same story)
Skol chant shaking every seat (hey!)
We’ve seen Hail Marys
Miracle sideline
Feet inbounds by half a beat
From Tarkenton’s scramble
To Justin dancing down the seam
We’re chasing one bright Sunday
For every broken dream
[Chorus]
I wear the purple pain
Cold hands
Warm heart
In the rain
From old brown grass to indoor flame
We get so close
Then start again
But one day joy will drown the strain
Wide left washed out by champagne
Till then
Through loss and late-domain
I wear
I wear the purple pain