They'll speak of girls in cloaks like flame
That flickered through the wood;
They'll speak in riddles, hide her name
As if they ever could
Know the secret reasons why
She ventured from the path;
Ask her now, and she'll reply
With nothing but a laugh --
They're gnawing bones in the dark of the story
Bitter hyenas all scavenging scraps
They're gnawing bones in the foothills of glory
Victims of hunters and hobbled by traps
They see a little girl, they look no deeper;
Scavengers never see anything true
They're weaving prisons that never can keep her
Blood burns like fire, and it always burns through
They'll speak of wolves in twisting words
That strike and bite like knives;
They'll make their judgments, so a**ured
That all deceit survives
Hiding wolves in wicked skins
Their darkest sides preserved
But what's the truth, so deep within
The wood all unobserved?
They're gnawing bones in the hope of a slaughter
Bitter hyenas all chasing their tails
They're gnawing bones while the red-hooded daughter
Of something far older steps free of their trails
They see a little girl, gray wolf behind her;
Scavengers never see anything true
They say the wolf is her d**h, come to find her
Blood burns like fire, and it always burns through
They'll speak of girls who met their fate
In shadows in the wood;
They'll say the woodsman came too late
They never understood --
She cast her cloak and skin aside
She fought to claim her place
It's true, the girl they speak of died;
She didn't leave a trace...
They're gnawing bones never seeing the reason
Bitter hyenas too blind to be told
They're gnawing bones while the moon comes in season
All of the cubs coming back to the fold
They see a little girl, buy her deception
Scavengers never see anything true --
This was her destiny, sealed at conception
Blood burns like fire, and it always burns through
The true story here was the wolf and her mother;
The true story here was a promise once made
The true story here was a fate to discover
She knew what she did when she entered the glade...
The true story here was a cloak left discarded;
The true story here was too simple to see
The true story here was the wisdom imparted
By the wolf, by my father, when he said to me...
"They'll speak of girls in cloaks like flame;
They'll offer cruel advice
They'll tell them wolves bring only shame
Don't listen to them twice;
They'll tell their children, never heed
The things a wolf might say...
They'll tell their woodsmen, 'make them bleed.'
My darling, come away..."
"They're gnawing bones in the depths of their loathing
Bitter hyenas who hate what runs free
Let them be monsters in better men's clothing;
We'll run in shadows, and always run free
They saw a little girl; leave them to wonder
Scavengers never see anything true
We'll run like the lightning, we'll howl like the thunder
Blood burns like fire, and it always burns through
Blood is the gift of the wolf, left for you."