Knight to d7, I Hold e5
Improved Hanham Variation · sung from Black's side
Verse 1
Pawn to e5, then pawn to d6 e4 e5 Nf3 d6
Knight to f6, then knight to d7 d4 Nf6 Nc3 Nbd7
Bishop e7, I castle short Bc4 Be7 O-O O-O
Pawn to c6, pawn to h6 a4 c6 Re1 h6
He plays h3, rook to e8 h3 Re8
He grabs the space, I hold e5
Chorus
Pawn to e5, pawn to d6 e4 e5 Nf3 d6
Knight to f6, knight to d7 d4 Nf6 Nc3 Nbd7
My knight on d7 guards e5
Hanham wall, and I'm alive
Verse 2
He plays a5, bishop to f8 a5 Bf8
He plays bishop e3, pawn takes d4 Be3 exd4
My rook on e8 hits e4
My d-pawn dreams of breaking to d5
Never a6, that push would not survive
Chorus
Pawn to e5, pawn to d6 e4 e5 Nf3 d6
Knight to f6, knight to d7 d4 Nf6 Nc3 Nbd7
My knight on d7 guards e5
Hanham wall, and I'm alive
Bridge
He owns the space, I own the wall
My pawns on d6 and e5 stand tall
Six games in ten are won or lost
Queens leave early, swords still crossed
Chorus
Pawn to e5, pawn to d6 e4 e5 Nf3 d6
Knight to f6, knight to d7 d4 Nf6 Nc3 Nbd7
My knight on d7 guards e5
Hanham wall, and I'm alive
Outro
Knight to f6, knight to d7 d4 Nf6 Nc3 Nbd7
My knight on d7 guards e5 forever
The whole opening is that one promise: the knight goes to d7 so the e5 pawn never falls, and Black waits behind the d6–e5 wall for the moment to take on d4 or break with the d-pawn.