Three Men Walked

[Intro] (Banjo plays a sparse, dissonant, repeating figure - low strings drone) (Baritone hums low, wordless melody, creating unease) [Verse 1] Three men walked, early fifty years, Dusty path beneath the sun. Talk was low, carried on the breeze, A journey just begun. Shoulders broad, hats pulled down low, Boots kicked up the clay. Heading west where the tall grass grows, At the closing of the day. [Chorus] (Banjo picks up slightly, still dissonant, rhythmic pulse) Three men walked into the haze, Swallowed whole by sun and dust. Vanished from the mortal gaze, Leaving only doubt and rust. Three men walked, the dust took hold, A story left untold. [Verse 2] (Baritone voice becomes more resonant, slightly louder) Sun dipped low, a crimson stain, Shadows stretched and bled. No one saw those three again, Just the path ahead. Silence fell where footsteps rang, The wind began to m**n. The dusty road, a serpent's fang, Left those men alone. [Chorus] (Banjo intensifies, strumming becomes more urgent) Three men walked into the haze, Swallowed whole by sun and dust. Vanished from the mortal gaze, Leaving only doubt and rust. Three men walked, the dust took hold, A story left untold. [Verse 3] (Baritone soars, powerful and mournful) People came with lanterns bright, Called into the gloom. Searched by day and searched by night, Found an empty tomb. No trace left on that hard-packed ground, No whisper, not a sigh. Just the echo of the sound Of a lonely raven's cry. [Bridge] (Banjo slows, becomes sparse again, dissonant chords h**g heavy) Where did they go? The question hangs, Like smoke upon the air. Did the earth just open wide? Did something lead them there? No answers whispered on the wind, No sign for eyes to see. Just the dust that took three men, Into eternity. [Chorus] (Baritone returns full force, powerful and anguished, banjo drives) Three men walked into the haze, Swallowed whole by sun and dust! Vanished from the mortal gaze, Leaving only doubt and rust! Three men walked, the dust took hold, A story left untold! [Outro] (Banjo figure slows, repeats the dissonant intro motif) (Baritone hums the opening melody, fading slowly into silence) (Droning low note fades out)