Black Magic Baby

Sultry supernatural Latin country-blues, ~96 BPM, smoky nocturnal groove, Conor Ames: deep low-mid baritone with slight growl, lazy seductive phrasing, dry humor, CLEAR forward vocal, Minor hexatonic Voodoo Blues 1–♭3–4–♭5–5–6 throughout, Kevin's Telecaster is liquid and singing: long sustain, expressive bends, sparse blues phrases, never busy, Conor's five-string bass locks tightly with congas, timbales and lazy low-tuned kit, Corrido brass—muted/open trumpets with occasional low trombone—answers Telecaster and vocal in dramatic Mexican borderland phrases, Serena's Hammond adds dark sustained warmth; sparse pedal steel only as ghostly texture, Latin percussion and blues pocket gradually intensify; Telecaster/trumpet call-and-response grows into fiery instrumental duel, Sensual, dangerous, supernatural Halloween atmosphere with warm analog tube sound, NO pop gloss, NO synths, NO whispering/fade

[INTRO — LATIN BLUES | E MINOR]
[SLOW CONGAS + TIMBALES | FIVE-STRING BASS]
[LIQUID TELECASTER — LONG SUSTAIN]
[MUTED TRUMPET ANSWERS]
[CONOR — LOW SMOKY BARITONE]

[VERSE 1]
Saw her standing where the streetlight ended,
Silver hanging from her fingertips.
Black lace moving in the midnight weather,
Little red smile upon her lips.

She drew a circle with the heel of her boot,
Whispered something I couldn't hear.
Every dog along the whole damn block
Put its tail down and disappeared.

[TELECASTER ANSWER]

I should've walked away.

I didn't.

[CHORUS]
That woman works in shadows,
She got midnight in her eyes.
That woman works in shadows,
And Lord, she don't disguise.

Got a little black candle,
Got a little red flame,
Got something in a bottle
That just whispered my name.

That woman works in shadows—

And I'm following her tonight.

[TRUMPET + TELECASTER CALL/RESPONSE]

[VERSE 2]
She wore silver rings on every finger,
One black stone against her throat.
Had a raven feather in her hatband,
And strange red stitching in her coat.

She said,
“Conor, you believe in curses?”

I said,
“Depends who's asking me.”

She smiled.

Every light went out
from here clear down the street.

[STOP]

“Well...

That answers that.”

[CONGAS RETURN]

[CHORUS]
That woman works in shadows,
She got trouble in her hands.
That woman works in shadows,
And she knows I understand.

Got a bone-white charm,
Got a blood-red rose,
Got a way of making grown men
go wherever she goes.

That woman works in shadows—

And I'm following her tonight.

[INSTRUMENTAL — TELECASTER FEATURE]
[MINOR HEXATONIC: 1–♭3–4–♭5–5–6]
[TRUMPETS ENTER — CORRIDO PHRASES]
[CONGAS + TIMBALES BUILD]

[VERSE 3]
We crossed the bridge below the mission,
Moon was hanging amber-red.
She said,
“Whatever calls you from the river—

Don't answer.”

I said,
“What?”

She said,
“Exactly.”

Then something underneath us said:

[LOW DISTANT VOICE]
“Conor...”

[STOP]

I looked at her.

She raised one brow.

“See?”

“Yeah.

Point taken.”

[BRIDGE — DARK CORRIDO BRASS]

She took my hand.
Her skin was cold.

The trumpet cried
and the night turned gold.

One step forward.
Two steps slow.

I knew damn well
I ought to go.

Then she leaned close
and said my name—

[CONOR]
“Aw, hell.”

[FULL BAND DROP]

[CHORUS — BIG]
That woman works in shadows,
Got the moon beneath her feet.
That woman works in shadows,
Makes the devil miss a beat.

Black candle burning,
red dress turning,
silver flashing in the night.
Trumpets calling,
stars are falling—

And I'm still holding on tight.

That woman works in shadows—

And I'm following her tonight.

[INSTRUMENTAL BREAK — TELECASTER + TRUMPET DUEL]
[CONGAS/TIMBALES | FIVE-STRING BASS LOCKED GROOVE]
[BUILD — ♭5→5→6]

[VERSE 4 — LOW AND CLOSE]
Around three she brought me home again.
Sun was thinking about coming through.

She kissed my cheek.

Said,
“You're interesting.”

I said,
“Lady...

So are you.”

She walked away
before the daylight.

I watched her disappear.

Then I found a little black candle
burning beside my beer.

[STOP]

I never bought that candle.

[CONOR CHUCKLES]

“Damn.”

[FINAL CHORUS]
That woman works in shadows,
And I know just what she is.
That woman works in shadows—

Still wouldn't change that kiss.

Got a little black candle,
got her number in my phone,
and something keeps scratching
at the wall behind my home.

That woman works in shadows—

[TRUMPET STAB]

She asked if I'm free Friday night.

[BEAT]

[CONOR]
“I am now.”

[LIQUID TELECASTER — LONG SUSTAIN]
[TRUMPET ANSWERS]
[CUT]

3509/7500

[INTRO — LATIN BLUES | E MINOR] [SLOW CONGAS + TIMBALES | FIVE-STRING BASS] [LIQUID TELECASTER — LONG SUSTAIN] [MUTED TRUMPET ANSWERS] [CONOR — LOW SMOKY BARITONE] [VERSE 1] Saw her standing where the streetlight ended, Silver hanging from her fingertips. Black lace moving in the midnight weather, Little red smile upon her lips. She drew a circle with the heel of her boot, Whispered something I couldn't hear. Every dog along the whole damn block Put its tail down and disappeared. [TELECASTER ANSWER] I should've walked away. I didn't. [CHORUS] That woman works in shadows, She got midnight in her eyes. That woman works in shadows, And Lord, she don't disguise. Got a little black candle, Got a little red flame, Got something in a bottle That just whispered my name. That woman works in shadows— And I'm following her tonight. [TRUMPET + TELECASTER CALL/RESPONSE] [VERSE 2] She wore silver rings on every finger, One black stone against her throat. Had a raven feather in her hatband, And strange red stitching in her coat. She said, “Conor, you believe in curses?” I said, “Depends who's asking me.” She smiled. Every light went out from here clear down the street. [STOP] “Well... That answers that.” [CONGAS RETURN] [CHORUS] That woman works in shadows, She got trouble in her hands. That woman works in shadows, And she knows I understand. Got a bone-white charm, Got a blood-red rose, Got a way of making grown men go wherever she goes. That woman works in shadows— And I'm following her tonight. [INSTRUMENTAL — TELECASTER FEATURE] [MINOR HEXATONIC: 1–♭3–4–♭5–5–6] [TRUMPETS ENTER — CORRIDO PHRASES] [CONGAS + TIMBALES BUILD] [VERSE 3] We crossed the bridge below the mission, Moon was hanging amber-red. She said, “Whatever calls you from the river— Don't answer.” I said, “What?” She said, “Exactly.” Then something underneath us said: [LOW DISTANT VOICE] “Conor...” [STOP] I looked at her. She raised one brow. “See?” “Yeah. Point taken.” [BRIDGE — DARK CORRIDO BRASS] She took my hand. Her skin was cold. The trumpet cried and the night turned gold. One step forward. Two steps slow. I knew damn well I ought to go. Then she leaned close and said my name— [CONOR] “Aw, hell.” [FULL BAND DROP] [CHORUS — BIG] That woman works in shadows, Got the moon beneath her feet. That woman works in shadows, Makes the devil miss a beat. Black candle burning, red dress turning, silver flashing in the night. Trumpets calling, stars are falling— And I'm still holding on tight. That woman works in shadows— And I'm following her tonight. [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK — TELECASTER + TRUMPET DUEL] [CONGAS/TIMBALES | FIVE-STRING BASS LOCKED GROOVE] [BUILD — ♭5→5→6] [VERSE 4 — LOW AND CLOSE] Around three she brought me home again. Sun was thinking about coming through. She kissed my cheek. Said, “You're interesting.” I said, “Lady... So are you.” She walked away before the daylight. I watched her disappear. Then I found a little black candle burning beside my beer. [STOP] I never bought that candle. [CONOR CHUCKLES] “Damn.” [FINAL CHORUS] That woman works in shadows, And I know just what she is. That woman works in shadows— Still wouldn't change that kiss. Got a little black candle, got her number in my phone, and something keeps scratching at the wall behind my home. That woman works in shadows— [TRUMPET STAB] She asked if I'm free Friday night. [BEAT] [CONOR] “I am now.” [LIQUID TELECASTER — LONG SUSTAIN] [TRUMPET ANSWERS] [CUT]

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