Chains in the Black

[Кіріспе] [Muted-string pick scrape, bass thud; lurching riff, toms enter] [Куплет 1] Whiteout folds the pass around my cab Chains bite once, then skip across the black The grade keeps pulling at the loaded wheels I lean into the turn and hold the feel [Алдынғы қайырма] The radio breaks: “rig stalled up ahead” A burst of snow chews through the words again I ease the throttle, count the guardrail posts And watch the lane disappear below [Қайырма] Claw through the pass, keep the nose pointed high One wheel slips, but we’re not letting go Past that dead rig, with the storm at our side Inch by inch, bring this whole load home [Куплет 2] His hazard lamps are dim behind the sleet A shadow in the ditch, a drift-deep wheel I thread the gap with inches left to spare The chains snap hard; i keep the rig in line [Қайырма] Claw through the pass, keep the nose pointed high One wheel slips, but we’re not letting go Past that dead rig, with the storm at our side Inch by inch, bring this whole load home [Guitar solo] [Instrumental: dissonant, expressive distorted-guitar solo over the crawling riff] [Қайырма] Claw through the pass, keep the nose pointed high One wheel slips, but we’re not letting go Past that dead rig, with the storm at our side Inch by inch, bring this whole load home