The Fire I Leave Behind

Lyrics

[Intro]
Cold north gnaws the bone; my hands a bowl of night
One stubborn coal still breathes against the bite
Smoke writes a name that winter cannot read
Take it

[Verse 1]
I wore the weight of storms across this skin
Knuckles black with ash from every win
I learned the mountain’s silence, learned its teeth
Held back the wind with nothing but my breath
I feel the wick of me run short and thin
The edge is near, but what we lit will live
I’m just the hand that shielded it from sleet
Take it

[Pre-Chorus]
I’ve got it
I hear the iron heartbeat under snow
I’ve got it
I’ll cup the glow and walk where you won’t go
I’ve got it
I’ll feed it names of those who bled before
I’ve got it
I will not let the cold devour its core

[Chorus]
Hold it high through the knives of the wind, don’t hide it
Guard the spark with scarred open hands, beside it
Torch to torch down the ridgeline, a red-blood sea
Take it
I’ve got it
Sparks outlive the hand that struck them free
The fire I leave behind burns longer than me

[Drop]
I’ve got it
I’ve got it
I’ve got it (I’ve got it)

[Verse 2]
Your shadow thins, but mine is learning length
I map your footprints, borrow from your strength
I’ll stitch the night with coals like hunter’s eyes
A rivered blaze that answers northern skies
When frost bites deep, I’ll bare my teeth and feed
With breath and bark, with oath and tempered need
The line you held, I shoulder now and lead
I’ve got it

[Pre-Chorus 2]
Take it
Not with fear, but pride, and let me fade
Take it
I’ve laid the path in soot and iron braid
Take it
My last warm breath belongs to this small light
Take it
Carry what I could only guard tonight

[Chorus 2]
Hold it high through the knives of the wind, don’t hide it
Guard the spark with scarred open hands, beside it
Torch to torch down the ridgeline, a red-blood sea
Take it
I’ve got it
Sparks outlive the hand that struck them free
The fire I leave behind burns longer than me

[Drop 2]
Take it
I’ve got it
Take it
I’ve got it
Carry the blaze through the teeth of the freeze
Burn longer than me
Take it
I’ve got it

[Bridge]
When my ash is quiet in the drift
Remember: every warmth is someone’s gift
If darkness asks for knees, refuse to bend
Name me in the smoke, then let me end
What matters isn’t how long I could see
But that this coal outruns the length of me

[Chant Break]
Hands up, guard the ember (hey!)
Line of fire, remember (hey!)
Breathe and feed, forever (hey!)
Pass it on, pass it on (hey!)
Hands up, guard the ember (hey!)
Line of fire, remember (hey!)
Breathe and feed, forever (hey!)
Pass it on, pass it on (hey!)

[Final Chorus]
Hold it high through the knives of the wind, don’t hide it
Guard the spark with scarred open hands, beside it
Torch to torch down the ridgeline, a red-blood sea
Take it
I’ve got it
Sparks outlive the hand that struck them free
The fire I leave behind burns longer than me
Take it
I’ve got it
I’ll feed it all the voices in our tree
The fire I leave behind burns longer than me

[Outro]
I’ve got it
In my two hands, your coal becomes a sea
I’ll walk it forward, quiet, iron-steady
The fire I leave behind burns longer than me