[Intro 4] [Serrated bass, fractured drums and guitar stabs cut off before they can ring] [Dry close vocal] Nothing gets to me That’s the good part [Verse 1 12] They told me in the break room I nodded, finished out my shift Everybody watched my face Waiting for a part to slip I made the calls that needed making Answered every question right Drove home, carried in the trash cans Changed the bulb above the light People said that I was solid Said they wished they had my strength I let them call it courage I knew how to hold my face [Pre-Chorus 4] [Each instrument cuts off sooner] No shaking hands No sleepless week Nothing got inside Nothing got to me [Chorus 8] [Force into heavy 4/4; remove the final beat of every fourth bar] Nothing touched me I never gave it what it came for Nothing moved me I stood exactly where I was Let the whole world throw its weight I could take it, I could stay Nothing touched me That’s what I used to say [Verse 2 12] They surprised me for my birthday Everybody yelled my name I knew enough to smile When somebody raised the cake My brother told the old story The whole table came apart I watched their faces for the moment Then I played my little part Someone put their arms around me Mine remembered what to do I could imitate the feeling I just couldn’t make it true [Pre-Chorus 4] [Bass and drums separate into isolated hits] I thought numb was neutral Never counted what it cost Till I couldn’t tell the difference Between protected and lost [Chorus 8] [Harder drums; vocal tails cut unnaturally short] Nothing touched me I never gave it what it came for Nothing moved me I stood exactly where I was Let the whole world throw its weight I could take it, I could stay Nothing touched me That’s what I used to say [Break 4] [Drums strike without resonance] [Bass attempts one sustained note but is cut off repeatedly] [Verse 3 12] [Only clipped bass and dry lead] After everybody left You gathered glasses from the room Asked if I had a good time I said, “Yeah, you know I do” You set the last one on the counter Turned and looked me in the face Said, “I watched you watch us love you Like you weren’t inside the place” I started reaching for an answer You didn’t let me leave Said, “You’re not hard to hurt You’re hard to reach” [Bridge 8] [Drums disappear] [One distorted guitar note sustains without being cut] Every time a feeling found me I was gone before it hit I called that being bulletproof I was somewhere else instead Pain never failed to touch me I just never stayed to feel [Silence: 2s] Nothing touched me Not even the good [Final Chorus 12] [All gates open; bass, guitar and vocal tails overlap] [Full drums remain jagged but allow resonance] Nothing touched me Not the hands around my shoulders Not the people who kept showing up And standing with me through it I called it being bulletproof I was somewhere else instead I don’t want to disappear Every time the room gets real Let your hand stay on my shoulder Let the whole note ring Nothing touched me Till I stayed long enough to feel it [Outro 4] [One sustained chord, warm bass and audible breath] You touch my shoulder I stay There it is [End][End][End]
