Skin and Bone v2

[Verse 1] [low, close, barely above a murmur] Sun came through the kitchen blind Dust on the amp I left behind I tuned the Gibson, didn't play a thing Just held it like a word I couldn't sing [voice cracks slightly] The phone sat dark on the counter all night Not even a wrong number to make it feel right [Verse 2] [still quiet, but heavier, more weight in the chest] I teach kids chords on a Tuesday night They don't know the songs I used to write Somebody's nephew needs "that classic sound" I show up and play what they want, water it down [jaw tight, pressure building] There's glass between me and the ones who still cheer They want who I was, not who's sitting here [Pre-Chorus] [jaw tight, building pressure] I've been ready since the sun came up I've been coiled up like a rusted spring Holding my breath, holding the line Just in case somebody needs what's mine [Chorus] [full voice, strained, pushing hard] I'm like an old rock song stripped down to skin and bone Waiting on a stage that might not ever have me on I'm a voice on standby, a hand on hold Needed for a minute, then the minute is gone [pull back slightly, aching] I'm like an old rock song stripped down to skin and bone Still got the words, still got the tone [Verse 3] [sudden lift, eyes bright, alive] Then somebody knocks, then somebody asks Hey can you play that one, hey can you help with that And I swear I come alive, I swear I feel the blood I remember what my hands are for, I remember what I was [almost shouting, grinning] Yeah this is it, this is the thing This is why I kept the strings [Pre-Chorus] [urgent, grateful, pouring out] I've been ready since the sun came up Now somebody needs me and I'm enough Pouring it out, giving it all This is the feeling, this is the call [Chorus] [full voice, even harder than before] I'm like an old rock song stripped down to skin and bone Waiting on a stage that might not ever have me on I'm a voice on standby, a hand on hold Needed for a minute, then the minute is gone [voice breaking on the last line] I'm like an old rock song stripped down to skin and bone Still got the words, still got the tone [Bridge] [voice dropping, hollow, the air gone out] And then it's over, and then it's done Back to the chair, back to no one The high burns off, the room goes gray [spoken quietly, almost a whisper] And I'm just a ghost again, waiting for the next time somebody says hey [Verse 4] [quiet again, resigned, tired but steady] I check the screen, I check the door I check the habits I had before The kids are busy, the crowd moved on The prompt is empty, the set is done I'm still here, I'm still in tune Just waiting on the next time somebody walks into the room [Outro] [fading, barely there, last words hanging] Skin and bone Still got the tone Waiting on you Just waiting on you