O Turn The Wheel

[Intro - Acoustic guitar, low wooden flute, soft steady bodhrán beat]
(Instrumental build - 0:00 to 0:20)
​[Verse 1]
The longest night begins to fall,
Shadows stretch across the wall.
The fire fades to embers low,
Underneath a world of snow.
The frost is thick upon the bough,
The sleeping earth is quiet now.
​[Verse 2]
A silent pause before the turn,
Lessons for the soul to learn.
Darkness holds the coming light,
Guiding us through the quiet night.
The wheel turns slow, the season yields,
Across the pale and frozen fields.
​[Chorus - Full harmonies enter, rich cello and bodhrán pulse]
O, turn the wheel and greet the sun,
The ancient twilight now begun.
Through winter's breath and bone and stone,
We never walk this night alone.
Rise up, sun, and claim your reign,
And bring the waking earth again.
​[Instrumental Break - Tin whistle melody and cello duet - 1:20 to 1:40]
​[Verse 3]
The stars align in frosty air,
A whispered promise, answered prayer.
The earth prepares for days to grow,
As life awaits beneath the snow.
The ancient roots beneath the clay
Are sleeping, dreaming of the day.
​[Chorus - Full harmonies, soaring, resonant]
O, turn the wheel and greet the sun,
The ancient twilight now begun.
Through winter's breath and bone and stone,
We never walk this night alone.
Rise up, sun, and claim your reign,
And bring the waking earth again.
​[Bridge - Slow tempo, minimal instrumentation, solo voice with warm bass]
Darkness gives the light its birth,
Deep within the quiet earth.
Hold the flame through cold and deep,
While the forest slumbers in its sleep.
(Deep breath, quiet beat)
​[Chorus - Peak intensity, full instrumentation and soaring vocal harmonies]
O, turn the wheel and greet the sun,
The ancient twilight now begun.
Through winter's breath and bone and stone,
We never walk this night alone.
Rise up, sun, and claim your reign,
And bring the waking earth again.
​[Outro - Instruments fade slowly to solo acoustic guitar and low flute]
Underneath a world of snow...
The sun returns, the light will grow...
(Fade out to silence - 2:50 to 3:05)