Ballad of Torrent's Maw

The First: The Watchdog A dog sits by the tavern gate, Silent to men, but howls at gold's weight. When copper coin comes, its tail wags free, When gold arrives, it crawls on its knee. They say this beast was once a man, Who traded his conscience for a silver span. Gold and silver rot the heart within, Now a mangy dog, groveling in sin. The Second: The Person in the Coffin The Mad Man kills with naught but blade, Boasts to all of the trade he's made. Heads roll today, he laughs the morrow, Blood as wine, and lives as straw to borrow. The Dragon King of the shoal lifts but a hand, And living men drift coffined from the land. The Third: Blood Money Blood money, gleaming white, Take the silver, go home tonight. Father said he'd soon return, Mother stitched the coin, her hands did churn. A bite for me, a bite for her, Fish porridge gone, still no sight— Father never came home that night.