[Vocal Direction: Every plant sings with a different character voice. Tobacco: youthful low male voice, smoky and playful. Chili Pepper: bright playful female. Coffee: smooth jazzy female. Mustard: quirky theatrical folk voice. Plant choir: many young innocent voices.] [Intro] [Solo banjo riff, Irish fiddle enters, muted guitar, dry studio recording, no vocals] We wrote the rules of "Stay Away!" You humans heard, "Come out and play!" [Verse 1 - Tobacco Plant] [Vocal: youthful low male voice, smoky and playful, slightly raspy, sarcastic but innocent] I brewed nicotine to guard my leaves, To make the hungry insects flee. I built a shield against the thieves, To keep their tiny teeth from me. You struck a match and took a breath, You smiled and called my smoke a friend. I built a trap that brought their death, But humans changed my story's end. [Pre-Chorus] [Vocal: Tobacco Plant, building energy] Every thorn and every sting, Was made to keep the pests away. Nature's clever little thing, Until you humans came to play. [Chorus] [All Plants: tight unison vocals] I gave a wound — you thanked me first, Then came right back for one more taste. It's almost reciprocal, at worst, Your common sense has gone to waste. [Vocal: layered plant harmony] It's truly disconcerting now, I never thought you'd love the flame. You turn my danger into ((WOW)), And treat my poison as a game. [Verse 2 - Chili Pepper Plant] [Vocal: young girl voice, bright, fiery, playful and cheeky] I filled my fruit with blazing heat, To scare the mammals far away. I thought my warning was complete, They'd never come another day. But humans came with fearless eyes, They tasted fire and cried for more. They held a contest for the prize, With burning tears upon the floor. [Verse 3 - Coffee Plant] [Vocal: young female voice, smooth, charming, dreamy, slightly jazzy] I made caffeine to fight the bugs, Who came to chew upon my tree. But humans turned my traps to cups, And built a world around me. They roast and grind my little seeds, To wake themselves with every cup. My tiny weapon now just feeds, A world that can't stop drinking up. [Verse 4 - Mustard Plant] [Vocal: young quirky folk voice, humorous, theatrical] I kept my burning oils inside, To warn whoever damaged me. I hoped the hungry ones would hide, And leave my roots alone and free. But humans crush me into sauce, And laugh while tears begin to fall. With every warning line they cross, They love the burning most of all. [Bridge] [Vocal: whispering layered plant harmony, then explosive tight unison vocals] What kind of creature ignores the heat? Then proudly asks for one more bite. Who turns a warning into a treat? And calls the burning pure delight? [Final Chorus] [All Plants: tight unison vocals] I gave a wound — you thanked me first, Then came right back for one more taste. It's almost reciprocal, at worst, Your common sense has gone to waste. [Vocal: layered plant harmony] It's truly disconcerting now, I never thought you'd love the flame. You turn my danger into ((WOW)), And treat my poison as a game. [Outro] [All Plants: different young voices laughing together] Here's the secret plants all know, We tried to stop you long ago. But if it burns, or bites, or stings, You'll turn our warnings into wins. You'll play with fire, chase the flame, While hidden traps are all around. You made our defenses into games, [Pronunciation note: "wound" should be pronounced as "wownd" (/waʊnd/), meaning wrapped around] Now by our vines you're tightly wound. [Final Instrumental] [Irish fiddle melody, banjo, dance punk drums, indie dance bass groove]
