The Black Stones

[Verse 1] At dawn we walk slow Bare feet in the nettles You carry the ash bowl I carry the bells Old oaks keep their secrets In the split of their bark And the stones stand listening Like teeth in the dark [Pre-Chorus] Three turns to the east gate One breath, then the flame You press your palm to cold rock And lay down your claim [Chorus] Ash on the threshold Ash on the tongue We circle the black stones Till the old rites are done Ash on the threshold Ash on the tongue The door stays shut to us Till the drums have begun [Verse 2] There’s a hare in the bracken There’s rain in the ditch The moon is a sickle On a blackthorn switch You read from the lichen I read from the crow And the wheel in the sky says let the magic flow [Pre-Chorus] Three turns to the east gate One breath, then the flame You press your palm to cold rock And lay down your claim [Chorus] Ash on the threshold Ash on the tongue We circle the black stones Till the old rites are done Ash on the threshold Ash on the tongue The door stays shut to us Till the drums have begun [Bridge] We measured out the salt And lay the loaf with the bone We raise the peat smoke upon us And seal the pelt to the stone You bind the rowan in seven knots I cleave the yew with the knife Then we keep our vigil by the ash heap Till the omens take breath and rise [Final Chorus] Ash on the threshold Ash on the tongue We circle the black stones Till the old rites are done Ash on the threshold Ash on the tongue The door is now open to us the drums have begun