The Mountains that Refused Him

[Verse 1]
Halum left the valley
With a sword too dull for war
The elders said, "The mountain
Has turned back men before"
But somewhere past the snowline
A silver beacon burned
And Halum swore he'd reach it
Though every road returned

[Pre-Chorus]
The wind said, "Go home"
The stone said, "You will fall"
He planted bleeding fingers
And answered, "Then I'll crawl"

[Chorus]
One more step when the legs give way
One more dawn through a freezing gray
You don't need to know you'll win
Only find the strength again
Let the mountain laugh above
Let the heavens test your blood
Determination isn't knowing
It's climbing when you're not

[Verse 2]
Three times he lost his footing
Twice he nearly disappeared
But courage wasn't absence
Of exhaustion or of fear
At sunrise on the summit
There was no promised crown
Just Halum looking backward
At the world he'd walked around

[Outro]
No gods applauded.
No trumpets blew.
He smiled and whispered,
"I said I'd make it through."