[Intro – solo female, sweet haunting lullaby, no instruments] Hush now, darling, close your eyes Dream beneath the velvet skies If the stars should lose their light I’ll be here to hold you tight [Music box echoes melody, low cello enters, deep bass drops] [Verse 1 – intimate, smoky female alto] Cradle hanging in the sky They promised me I’d never cry Soft as silk, dressed in white Everything would be alright Then the wind began to blow Shook the things I didn’t know Held on tight, held on long Till the branch I’d trusted broke [Pre-Chorus – stripped back] Hold me close Hold me tight Tell me one more Little lie [Chorus – haunting, melodic] When the bough breaks When the cradle falls Who’s gonna catch me After all? Rock me slowly Let me go Some things break Some things grow [Verse 2 – deep bass, restrained groove] Pretty words and painted walls Couldn’t stop the coming fall Now I sleep with one eye wide Keep my heart on the inside [Pre-Chorus] Hold me close Hold me tight Tell me one more Little lie [Chorus – fuller harmonies] When the bough breaks When the cradle falls Who’s gonna catch me After all? Rock me slowly Let me go Some things break Some things grow [Bridge – music box, almost still] Hush now, darling Don’t you cry Some lullabies Are just goodbye [Final Chorus – powerful but controlled] When the bough breaks When the cradle falls Who’s gonna catch me After all? Rock me slowly Let me go Some things break Some things grow [Outro – original lullaby melody returns] Hush now, darling Close your eyes I fell once… Now I fly.
