[PREPRODUCTION — INTIMATE COUNTRY-SOUL | 84 BPM] Smoky, warm female alto with a slightly husky, vulnerable tone. Smooth country-soul with a gentle R&B groove. Fingerpicked acoustic guitar, soft piano, warm bass, brushed drums, delicate cello, and subtle Hammond organ. Intimate verses, emotionally building choruses. A stronger heartbeat-like bass rhythm enters the bridge. No talking, no vocal runs, no long instrumental intro. Approximately 3 minutes. [VERSE 1 — SOFT, REFLECTIVE FEMALE VOCAL] I saw that peach with the bruise on its skin, Guess I saw a little of myself in it. You didn't ask why I chose that one, Just smiled and said, "Well, darlin', we're done." I've been loved with strings I couldn't see, Kindness that came with a guarantee. But you just took my hand that day, And let the silence have its say. [PRE-CHORUS — PIANO ENTERS] I'm not afraid of loving you, I'm afraid of what love used to do. But every time I look your way, There's one less reason to be afraid. [CHORUS — WARM, SWAYING COUNTRY-SOUL] Stay slow, But don't mistake my caution for goodbye. Stay close, I want your arms around me tonight. I don't need forever written in stone, Or promises bigger than this home. Just kiss me like you've got nowhere to be, And let tomorrow come naturally. You say stay slow, Well, baby, I agree. But slow don't mean You gotta let go of me. [VERSE 2 — PLAYFUL, TENDER DELIVERY] You had flour on your shirt, Cinnamon on your hands. I was stealing bites of cobbler, While you were making plans. You asked if it was sweet enough, I said, "Chef, you're a mess." But when you offered to make another, I heard more than you meant. 'Cause nobody ever made me feel Like tomorrow was something real. [CHORUS — FULLER GROOVE, SOFT HARMONIES] Stay slow, But don't mistake my caution for goodbye. Stay close, I want your arms around me tonight. I don't need forever written in stone, Or promises bigger than this home. Just kiss me like you've got nowhere to be, And let tomorrow come naturally. You say stay slow, Well, baby, I agree. But slow don't mean You gotta let go of me. [BRIDGE — MUSIC DROPS TO PIANO, CELLO AND HEARTBEAT BASS | INTIMATE, EMOTIONAL] You said to listen, So I listened all night. No doors were slamming, No reason to fight. Just your heartbeat beneath my cheek, And the kind of peace I thought I'd never meet. And somewhere between the dark and dawn, I stopped waiting for something to go wrong. [FINAL CHORUS — EMOTIONAL LIFT, STRONGER DRUMS] Stay slow, We don't have to race the rising sun. Stay close, I'm not afraid of what we've become. No tally, no tab, no keeping score, I'm not standing halfway out the door. You don't have to prove a thing to me, Just keep loving me this naturally. [OUTRO — STRIPPED ACOUSTIC, SOFT FEMALE VOCAL] And Chef, if you wake before I do, Don't wonder if I'm staying with you. That peach had a bruise, But the sweetest part was there. You told me to stay slow... Baby, I'm not going anywhere. [END — SOFT CELLO RESOLUTION, NO INSTRUMENTAL FADE]
