Salt & Ember

**[Intro – hurdy-gurdy drone, distant drums, chimes like water on metal]** *(Spoken, close, both)* The tide’s already high. You gonna keep staring… or are we swimming? **[Verse 1 – Female, breathy talk-sing over sparse bowed strings]** Sun’s still climbing when your shadow cuts the sand You bounce that grin like you already know the plan I flick a drop of ocean from my fingers to your chest You catch it on your tongue and say you’re still not wet My hair’s a storm of purple, teal, and salt-stung black You watch the way the chains along my hips fight back One look, then another, then a fingertip that strays Just tracing the edge of the day we said we’d “play” **[Verse 2 – Male, same delivery, drums entering soft]** You’re all black leather and that phoenix on your thigh It flexes every time you shift your weight and lie I brush a palm leaf past your shoulder, “just the breeze” You catch my wrist and hold it where the water meets your knees Your eyes don’t match—one green, one violet fire You pull me closer just to say “I’m not a liar” The padlock on your strap clicks soft against my skin You laugh and ask if I brought the key or if you’re locking me in **[Pre-Chorus – both, building, strings tightening]** Teasing glances turn to fingers under straps Every “accidental” touch another map The war drums start like heartbeats in the sand We both pretend we still know where we stand **[Chorus – both, crooned, doubled, full tribal stomp]** Come on, pull me under where the current’s hot I’ll be the tide that never wants to stop Salt on your lips, ember in your hands We said we’d stay as friends… but the ocean understands Ride the rise, ride the fall, ride the fight Two friends, one shoreline, losing the light If this is war, then I surrender slow Come on, come on—let the waves take what we know **[Verse 3 – Female, more urgent, chimes sparkling]** You lift me like the water when the next wave hits I wrap around you just to “keep from slipping”— My thighs lock tight, the phoenix spreads its wings You groan my name like it’s the only thing Leather’s slick, your skin is warmer still I roll my hips and call it “learning how to drill” The sun’s a witness, palm trees lean in close We both stop talking when the real war shows **[Verse 4 – Male, matching intensity]** I taste the ocean on the hollow of your throat You dig your nails in like you’re staking out a post Every buckle, every chain becomes a line we cross You whisper “harder” like you’re daring me to lose the cause My hands find purchase on the curve you never hide You arch and tell me “this is just the rising tide” We move like soldiers who forgot they had a side Only the rhythm left, only the need, only the ride **[Bridge – both, half-spoken, half-sung, drums drop to heartbeat then swell]** *(Female)* Look at me… right there… don’t you dare look away *(Male)* I’m not looking anywhere but the way you sway *(Female)* Friends don’t… *(Male)* …do this *(Both)* Then call it something else Call it salt Call it ember Call it the only truth the shoreline ever tells **[Final Chorus – full force, doubled, battlefield textures rising]** Come on, pull me under where the current’s hot I’ll be the tide that never wants to stop Salt on your lips, ember in your hands We said we’d stay as friends… but the ocean understands Ride the rise, ride the fall, ride the fight Two friends, one shoreline, claiming the night If this is war, then we both already won Come on, come on—till the last wave’s done **[Outro – instruments thin to hurdy-gurdy and distant drums, both breathy]** *(Male)* Still friends? *(Female, laughing, close)* …Ask me again when the tide goes out. *(Both)* Or don’t. *(Fade on pounding drums becoming soft surf, chimes like droplets on metal, one final bowed note that hangs like heat on skin.)*