The Ride

When doors lie open at halloween
On glimmering hills and lands unseen
The oldest of all that the world gave birth
Ride again through the hills of earth

Long before the word was spoken
Moon scarred or promise broken
From dust before the first day's sun
The children of the twilight come

When the great stones rose on the windy plain
And the corn mother sang for the springing grain
They carved the shot downs on the hill
The grey host rode and it's riding still

When the eagles came with their wings outspread
And the hard roads rang to the legion's tread
The war ran straight from coast to coast
Under the starlight rode the host

When they came from the north with their axe and plow
And the one-eyed god hung from the bough
Nine knights between the earth and sky
He saw the host come riding by

When clamoring bells and chanting priests
Proclaimed the dead god from the east
And churches rose on every hand
Still the grey host rode the land

When gold was gone and labor cheap
And they herded men like dogs herd sheep
Through furnace, glair and smokey mill
The grey host rode and it's riding still

Through towered blocks and littered streets
Where sirens wail and buses sleep
Where hope lives god only knows
For the gods died long ago

Still the grey host rides through the dead of night
And the cities are shadow to their sight
For beyond the mist of centuries
Still shine the stars and the ancient trees

Out of the darkness
On the road where the dead years run
Cold as moonlight
Terrible as the sun