Archipelago

Our ship rolls in to Nagaev Bay
Where we'll toil from the dawn to the last light of the day
Yeah the life of a Zek is one of decaying
Slowly as the form falls from your frame
Kulaks roll in on the endless trains
Torn from the land that they dared to claim
Tyres lashed to their feet where their boots gave way
Their back and barrow doomed to the same fate

2000 miles of dirt beget the Road of Bones
Carved in the snow beneath our hacks and hoo-oo-oes
(wo-hoo-hoo-hoo-wo-hoo-hoo-hoo)
Checkas and thieves will rob you blind
So carry only that which fills your mind

Darkness forms part of every heart
It's been within us from the start
Hold memories close for all else goes
Fall to the snow...
On your knees in the wastes of the Archipelago (guitar player gets grabbed)

(accordionist - JP!!! - gets grabbed)

All you may own you must carry with you
To mourn for the things that you've lost will destroy you
Let your soul be enriched by the friends that surround you
Pray the strength and the will of the good men still holds true
It alone is the seed that must grow to save us
In this ravaged land that the stool pigeon gave us
Father, Father, Heaven save us

2000 miles of dirt beget the Road of Bones
Carved in the snow beneath our hacks and hoo-oo-oes
(wo-hoo-hoo-hoo-wo-hoo-hoo-hoo)
Checkas and thieves will rob you blind
So carry only that which fills your mind

(the Mighty Beard gets grabbed)

Darkness forms part of every heart
It's been within us from the start

(as the surviving band members get more and more spooked, the chorus interlaces with the next verse)

Chatter here and there (Darkness forms part ...)
Careless talk is overheard
(...of every heart)
And the Black Mariah rolls off like a hearse
Spies are everywhere in this land (It's been within...)
Where a question brings a curse
(...us from the start)
Calls for clemency (Hold memories...)
Pleading only makes it worse
(...close for all else goes)
And the charge is none of your concern

Fall to the snow...
On your knees in the wastes of the Archipelago

(bass player gets spooked, then chills, then gets grabbed)

Sharashka spare me from Kolyma
La-lalalaa-lalalaa-lala-lala
From the black of the mines and the bite of the taiga
La-lalalaa-lalalaa-lala-lala
From the lice and the stick and the heel of the Checka
La-lalalaa-lalalaa-lala-lala
Three months or more mark a true survivor
La-lalalaa-lalalaa-lala-lala

2000 miles of dirt beget the Road of Bones
Carved in the snow beneath our hacks and hoo-oo-oes (punk mandolin player gets grabbed)
(wo-hoo-hoo-hoo-wo-hoo-hoo-hoo)
Checkas and thieves will rob you blind
So carry only that which fills your mind

Darkness forms part of every heart
It's been within us from the start

(as the last surviving band member get more and more bald, the chorus interlaces with the next verse)

Chatter here and there (Darkness forms part ...)
Careless talk is overheard
(...of every heart)
And the Black Mariah rolls off like a hearse
Spies are everywhere in this land (It's been within...)
Where a question brings a curse
(...us from the start)
Calls for clemency (Hold memories...)
Pleading only makes it worse
(...close for all else goes)
And the charge is none of your concern

Fall to the snow...
On your knees in the wastes of the Archipelago

(guitarist singer goes crazy for he's the last survivor) (everything's cool though, his guitar supports him)
(singer gets grabbed - we're frakked)