Mary and Gabriel

Lyrics

Intro
[Acoustic Guitar, Irish Whistle, Soft Bodhran Beat]

Verse 1
Beneath the ancient oak, the embers start to fade
The wind carries whispers of the shadow in the glade
Young Gabriel held his wooden sword against the gathering night
While Mary folded woven wool to keep him in the light
She stroked his golden curls and sang a slow and quiet tune
Before the shadow reached the peak and swallowed up the moon

Pre-Chorus
For darker than the winter frost, a malice swept the glen
It turned the rivers cold as stone and chilled the hearts of men
No iron blade could pierce the dark, no spell of ancient lore
Only a tether woven deep could bar the silent door

Chorus
Oh, mother's love is fire bright, a beacon in the storm
It holds the spirit steady when the shadows take their form
Hand in hand against the cold, through ashes and through stone
Mary and young Gabriel stood, but never stood alone
For blood and spirit tied as one, the fierce and gentle light
Can break the deepest winter and turn back the longest night

Verse 2
The evil spoke in iron tongues across the ruined square
It offered kings a kingdom, and it offered power there
It tested Gabriel’s little heart with promise of the crown
It showed him giant armies that would conquer every town
"Take up the sword," the phantom cried, "and let the mortal bleed"
"Or give your life into the dark and satisfy the greed"

Chorus
Oh, mother's love is fire bright, a beacon in the storm
It holds the spirit steady when the shadows take their form
Hand in hand against the cold, through ashes and through stone
Mary and young Gabriel stood, but never stood alone
For blood and spirit tied as one, the fierce and gentle light
Can break the deepest winter and turn back the longest night

Bridge
[Tempo Slows, Fiddle Swells, Intimate Whistle Solo]
Then Mary stepped between the shadow and her only son
She placed her trembling palm upon the child she had won
No weapon did she carry, just a prayer upon her breath
A bond stronger than iron, and a love that defied death
"Take me instead," the mother breathed, "or leave us both behind"
And in that quiet sacrifice, the dark was rendered blind

Guitar Strumming intensifies, Drums join

Chorus
Oh, mother's love is fire bright, a beacon in the storm
It holds the spirit steady when the shadows take their form
Hand in hand against the cold, through ashes and through stone
Mary and young Gabriel stood, but never stood alone
For blood and spirit tied as one, the fierce and gentle light
Can break the deepest winter and turn back the longest night

Outro
[Acoustic Guitar, Fading Fire Crackle, Soft Humming]
The shadow tore, the morning broke, the glens began to sing
The darkness fled before the hope the gentle touch could bring
So sit beside the embers now, and pass the story on
How Mary and her boy Gabriel held the night until the dawn...
Fade out