Intro (hushed, like fingers brushing beads) One bead for the vow in the roots below One bead for the hand I will never hold One bead for the child who will never know The sound of my voice in the morning Verse 1 – the union bead Gold for the day our braids were tied Breath to breath and eye to eye Your laugh lives here against my throat I carry it when I cannot breathe I was not alone I was not alone Eywa heard us Verse 2 – the mate Red for the sky when it split apart Black for the ash in your silent heart I dipped my hands in the enemy’s кровь So I would never feel you grow cold They say this is rage They say this is sin But it is the only way I still touch him Chorus These are not beads — these are bones These are the songs of everything gone Every color a life I wore Every knot a closing door If I let them fall, I fall apart So I bind them tighter to my heart Verse 3 – her twin Two shells carved from the selfsame stone You were the echo inside my soul Now when I speak there is a space Where your voice should answer mine I turn my head Still expecting you there Half of my shadow missing Verse 4 – the unborn child Small violet bead I cannot sing No first cry, no tsaheylu string I press it into my palm at night And wonder who you’d be Would you have known my gentle name? Would you have feared what I became? Or would you see me as I am — Still your mother Chorus (bigger, breaking) These are not beads — these are lives Hanging heavy where my heart survives They say “monster” when I pass by But they don’t hear this lullaby Every strike, every scar I’ve worn Is for the ones who were never mourned Bridge – the exile My People look and turn away They hear the war, not what I say But high above the world’s disdain My ikran knows each name She feels them when we fly Every memory in the wind She does not fear the red on me She knew me before it began Final Chorus – her truth This is my songcord I will not cut it free I am every love they took from me I am every life I keep And when Eywa calls my name She will hear each bead resound Not a warrior lost to grief But a forest daughter, found Outro (almost spoken) Gold… red… shell… violet… I remember I remember I remember

The Songchords