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Lyrics

(Intro)
(A gentle, intimate acoustic guitar melody, joined by the soft, breathy tones of an accordion.)
​(Verse 1 - The Brotherhood)
We grew up in the valley where the Rhône runs deep
Sharing every secret that a boy could ever keep.
You weren't born of my blood, Jean, but you were my soul
In this hell of a city, you were what made me whole.
We laughed in the trenches while you cleaned that German steel
That Bergmann you carried, like a charm that was real.
"We’ll go home to the vineyard," you promised with a grin
"When the smoke finally clears and the peace settles in."
​(Verse 2 - The Loss)
But the sun turned to copper and the sky turned to lead
And the streets of the Quarter were paved with the dead.
The Boxers came screaming through the gate in a swarm
And the air grew so heavy and the blood grew so warm.
I saw the light leave your eyes, I felt your hand go slack
And the world that we built simply started to crack.
My rifle was empty, just a cold piece of pine
But I wouldn't leave you there, brother of mine.
​(Chorus - The Vow)
DANS CETTE FOURNAISE À PÉKIN, JEAN, MON FRÈRE D'ARMES!
(My brother...) YOUR BERGMANN 1896 IS MY ULTIMATE FLAME!
FOR OUR FRIENDSHIP, I’LL HOLD EVERY INCH OF THIS GROUND
UNTIL THE RELIEF AND THE BUGLES ARE FOUND!
JE TIENDRAI CETTE LIGNE, QUELLES QUE SOIENT LES MENACES!
(Hold the line...) THROUGH THE DUST AND THE FIRE AND THE GRASS!
​(Bridge)
(The music explodes with driving drums and sweeping strings. The accordion takes on a distorted, mechanical edge.)
I reached for your holster, I reached for the clip
I felt the warmth of your palm still on the grip!
It’s a five-round bark! It’s a side-loading slide!
With the ghost of a brother right here by my side!
​(Verse 3 - The Stand)
The little lead pellets swept the alleyway clean
While I shouted your name through the sulfurous sheen.
They couldn't get past me, they couldn't break through
Because every shot fired was a promise to you.
I’m the last one standing, the survivor of two
But I’m bringing this pistol home, Jean, back to you.
​(Outro)
(The music fades to a lonely accordion and a single guitar strum.)
The Rhône is still running...
The vineyard is green...
I’ll see you in shadows, where the brave are unseen.
Repose en paix, mon frère.
(Fade to silence)
​Lyrics:
Dans cette fournaise à Pékin, Jean, mon frère d'armes,
Ta Bergmann 1896 est devenue mon ultime flamme.
Pour toi, pour notre amitié, je ferai le coup de grâce,
JE TIENDRAI CETTE LIGNE, QUELLES QUE SOIENT LES MENACES!
DANS LA FUREUR DES BOXERS, MON CRI PORTERA TA VOIX,
JE ME BATTRAI JUSQU'AU BOUT, POUR NOTRE DERNIÈRE FOI!
Lyrics:
Dans cette fournaise à Pékin, Jean, mon frère d'armes,
Ta Bergmann 1896 est devenue mon ultime flamme.
Pour toi, pour notre amitié, je ferai le coup de grâce,
JE TIENDRAI CETTE LIGNE, QUELLES QUE SOIENT LES MENACES!
DANS LA FUREUR DES BOXERS, MON CRI PORTERA TA VOIX,
JE ME BATTRAI JUSQU'AU BOUT, POUR NOTRE DERNIÈRE FOI!