[Intro]
[low growl chant]
Hooh-ai-ya
Hooh-ai-yo
Breath of stone
In my bone
[Verse 1]
Snow stands higher than the yurt ropes
Smoke crawls low along the skins
Ice in the beard and the black tea
Cracks in the cup and the wind
Hooves frozen deep in the pasture
Wolves draw close to the light
Grandfather’s drum by the doorway
Sleeps like a shield in the night
[Chorus]
Long winter
Iron on the steppe
Biting at the blood in my hand (hey!)
Long winter
Hammer in the chest
Beating till the mountain will answer
Hooh-ai-yo
I roar into the storm
Hooh-ai-ya
The storm roars back
Reborn
[Verse 2]
Stars cut sharp through the smoke hole
Old songs scrape in my throat
Names of the clans on my tongue tip
Carved like teeth in a bone
Frozen reins stuck to my fingers
Mare snorts steam in the dark
We ride circles round the silence
Striking sparks on its heart
[Chorus]
Long winter
Iron on the steppe
Biting at the blood in my hand (hey!)
Long winter
Hammer in the chest
Beating till the mountain will answer
Hooh-ai-yo
I roar into the storm
Hooh-ai-ya
The storm roars back
Reborn
[Bridge]
[drums and throat chant]
Stone sleeps
Sky keeps
We breathe
We sing
Year deep
Hoar steep
Still we
Still we
[Final Chorus]
Long winter
You will crack and bleed
Rivers from the weight of our song (ohh)
Long winter
Kneel beneath our feet
Melt into the gallop and dust
Hooh-ai-yo
I roar into the storm
Hooh-ai-ya
The storm rides on with us