North Country Blue

Why step here, up this twilight hill?
Have you lost your way?
The fog hangs low on Slate Hill Road
Creep and crawl to the iron gate
The air drifts foul, the leaves all fell
Fast beats your snake-bit heart
Deer rifle held in smoke-cured hands
Out the driver's side he's taking careless aim

Dead flowers bloom in this north country blue
From the falls to the villes from the lakes to the hills
From the greens in the east and the red mountains west
There's a storm of flies that's rising too
Dead flowers bloom in this north country blue
From the falls to the villes from the lakes to the hills
From the greens in the east and the red mountains west
You see them hunger but their stomachs full

Watch the salt block from the stand
Slither through leaves onto another's land
Pry the door from the frame
Torchlit shine and what's theirs you'll take
Fill your eyes with gold
Fill your lungs with smoke
Fill your pockets with stones
Fill your mind with rope
The fog hangs low as you come and go
While monsters roar on Bump Stock Road

Dead flowers bloom in this north country blue
From the falls to the villes from the lakes to the hills
From the greens in the east and the red mountains west
Flood lights burn bright through the depths of night
Dead flowers bloom in this north country blue
From the falls to the villes from the lakes to the hills
From the greens in the east and the red mountains west
There's a storm of flies that's rising too

There's a crooked cross under River Bridge
Wet silver kiss where kids learn to live
Walk hand and hand up posted roads
As they wander on some don't come home
Shale splintered smoke
Lying in the grass
Creased leather lips and a heavy drag
The night's taken what gifts you had
Barrel leveled at a child not young buck or stag

Dead flowers bloom in this north country blue
From the falls to the villes from the lakes to the hills
From the greens in the east and the red mountains west
These heavy rains wash the bones right back
Dead flowers bloom in this north country blue
From the falls to the villes from the lakes to the hills
From the greens in the east and the red mountains west
To the Gallows God goes the Devil's due