The Ballad of Mt. D

[Intro – gentle acoustic guitar strum, faint harmonica hum] Sunlight spills on Mt. D’s rough side Cardboard stacks and hopeful pride [Verse 1 – steady guitar rhythm, quiet shaker] I cut the flaps and taped the seams Built a dragon from my old dream No paint to glow, no shine to show Just brown cardboard and duct tape rows [Verse 1 Continued – same instrumentation, slightly lifted tone] My students sat on the hilltop bench With signs that said “Go, Mr. Finch!” I adjusted my hat, gripped the sled’s edge Swore this dragon would take me to the ledge [Chorus 1 – layered acoustic guitar, soft harmonica melody] Oh, the Ballad of Mt. D, the cardboard dragon’s fall I thought I’d fly, but I didn’t get tall My kids cheered loud, but I never made it down Just a pile of cardboard on the cold, hard ground [Interlude – acoustic guitar solo, slow and reflective] (Instrumental Solo) [Verse 2 – guitar picks a softer riff, subtle bass line] The starting horn blared, I pushed off fast The dragon’s wings caught a gust at last But a tape seam split, a corner gave way I slid sideways before I could say [Verse 2 Continued – same instrumentation, playful yet wistful tone] I hit a snowbank, flipped upside down My dragon crumpled, a cardboard crown The crowd laughed loud, but my kids just grinned They ran down to help me, no hint of chagrin [Chorus 2 – harmonica swells, slightly more upbeat rhythm] Oh, the Ballad of Mt. D, the cardboard dragon’s crash I lost the race, but I won the dash My kids hugged tight, as I brushed off the snow Said “That was the coolest thing we’ve ever seen, though” [Bridge – sparse guitar, quiet vocals] I thought the win was all that mattered But their smiles were what really mattered The dragon’s broken, but the fun remains A memory that outlasts the stains [Chorus 3 – full acoustic arrangement, warm group harmonies] Oh, the Ballad of Mt. D, the cardboard dragon’s tale I didn’t win, but I didn’t fail We carried the pieces back up the hill And promised next year, we’d build it better still [Outro – fading guitar, final harmonica note] Sun sets low on Mt. D’s side Cardboard dragon, we’ll try, try, try