Counting Sheep by Chef Juan

[INTRO — SPOKEN | WARM, DRY BARITONE | UNHURRIED]

Funny thing about getting older…

You spend half your life trying to get away from the noise.

Then you finally find somewhere quiet…

And everybody you lost starts talking.

Sho Nuff.

[VERSE 1 — 16 LINES | ACROSTIC: COUNTINGSHEEPNOW | ROLLING COUNTRY-RAP INTERNALS]

Clock ticking, thoughts drifting, quarter past three,
Old pictures, cold winters still got a hold on me.
Used to hear sirens, tires sliding through the street,
Now pine limbs scrape the window, won’t let me sleep.

Tossing and turning, conversations returning,
I close my eyes, count to five, but the memories keep stirring.
Names I ain’t mentioned, old tensions, all coming back clear,
Got a quiet little place, still hear everybody in here.

Same corners, old stories, some never got older,
Had big plans, quick hands, whole worlds on their shoulders.
Every late-night ride, every laugh, every run,
Every time I close my eyes, here comes another one.

Past got a spare key, still knows where I stay,
Nobody sees who comes through when the daylight fades.
One sheep, two sheep, still ain’t getting no rest,
Wish I could count myself asleep without counting who’s left.

[CHORUS — HAUNTING COUNTRY-SOUL | WARM BARITONE | RESTRAINED, ACHING DELIVERY]

One sheep, two sheep, jumping that fence,
Another old friend I get to see again.
Three sheep, four sheep, don’t turn on that light,
I got people on the other side waiting tonight.

Counting sheep, counting years, counting who ain’t here,
Every time I shut my eyes, somebody reappears.
Spent my whole life chasing days I couldn’t keep,
Now I’m begging for one more minute counting sheep.

[VERSE 2 — 16 BARS | HARD INTERNAL CHAINS | CITY-BOY SWAGGER INTO GRIEF]

Broke at the book fair, couldn’t afford me a page,
Other kids picking out books, I was swallowing rage.
Had a head full of stories with no money to spend,
Turned that hunger to a monster with a pen in my hand.

Graduated out the streets, no cap, no gown,
Separated the real from who was hanging around.
Laid back, way back, somewhere in the pines,
Chevy parked crooked, finally got some peace of mind.

Pain is love, pressure busts pipes,
Paid dues, made moves, made it through them rough nights.
Short checks, long shifts, two dollars between us,
Hot dogs, sliced cheese, white bread for dinner.

I don’t miss them wild nights, I miss who was there,
Those half-broke conversations, pulling up another chair.
Got away from the noise, got the peace I was seeking,
But I can’t call the ones who come around when I’m sleeping.

[CHORUS — SAME MELODY | MORE EMOTIONAL WEIGHT]

One sheep, two sheep, jumping that fence,
Another old friend I get to see again.
Three sheep, four sheep, don’t turn on that light,
I got people on the other side waiting tonight.

[BRIDGE — FRENCH | 8 LINES | INTIMATE, NEAR-SPOKEN]

Je compte les nuits sans sommeil,
Les souvenirs qui me réveillent.
Je revois les amis d’avant,
Et nos rires dans le vent.

Le temps emporte tant de voix,
Mais je les entends près de moi.
Quand tout le monde dort enfin,
Je garde leurs noms jusqu’au matin.

[VERSE 3 — 12 BARS | MULTISYLLABIC CHAINS | DREAM SEQUENCE | EMOTIONAL TURN]

Spent my life racing time, running blind through the years,
Rammed through the pressure, swallowed pride, buried tears.
Clock ticking, mind slipping, hear somebody call my name,
Heart kicking, turn quick, and the room don’t look the same.

Old faces, familiar places, everybody’s still here,
Same laughter, same chatter, like they never disappeared.
Chairs scraping, hands shaking, somebody says, “You good?”
I say, “Yeah, man, I’m alright,” like I always said I would.

One sheep, two sheep, now I ain’t counting to rest,
I’m counting every second that I get to spend with them.
Spent my whole life racing time, now I’m begging it to creep,
’Cause the only time I get ’em back is when I’m counting sheep.

[FINAL CHORUS — STRIPPED | FRAGILE DELIVERY | NO BIG BUILD]

One sheep, two sheep, jumping that fence,
Another old friend I get to see again.
Three sheep, four sheep, please don’t turn on that light,
I got people on the other side waiting tonight.

[OUTRO — SPOKEN | NEAR WHISPER | LONG PAUSES]

One sheep…

Two sheep…

I hear somebody call my name.

I turn around…

And there you are.

[PAUSE]

Then the morning comes.

Damn.

I was just getting to see you again.

Sho Nuff.

4770/7500

[INTRO — SPOKEN | WARM, DRY BARITONE | UNHURRIED] Funny thing about getting older… You spend half your life trying to get away from the noise. Then you finally find somewhere quiet… And everybody you lost starts talking. Sho Nuff. [VERSE 1 — 16 LINES | ACROSTIC: COUNTINGSHEEPNOW | ROLLING COUNTRY-RAP INTERNALS] Clock ticking, thoughts drifting, quarter past three, Old pictures, cold winters still got a hold on me. Used to hear sirens, tires sliding through the street, Now pine limbs scrape the window, won’t let me sleep. Tossing and turning, conversations returning, I close my eyes, count to five, but the memories keep stirring. Names I ain’t mentioned, old tensions, all coming back clear, Got a quiet little place, still hear everybody in here. Same corners, old stories, some never got older, Had big plans, quick hands, whole worlds on their shoulders. Every late-night ride, every laugh, every run, Every time I close my eyes, here comes another one. Past got a spare key, still knows where I stay, Nobody sees who comes through when the daylight fades. One sheep, two sheep, still ain’t getting no rest, Wish I could count myself asleep without counting who’s left. [CHORUS — HAUNTING COUNTRY-SOUL | WARM BARITONE | RESTRAINED, ACHING DELIVERY] One sheep, two sheep, jumping that fence, Another old friend I get to see again. Three sheep, four sheep, don’t turn on that light, I got people on the other side waiting tonight. Counting sheep, counting years, counting who ain’t here, Every time I shut my eyes, somebody reappears. Spent my whole life chasing days I couldn’t keep, Now I’m begging for one more minute counting sheep. [VERSE 2 — 16 BARS | HARD INTERNAL CHAINS | CITY-BOY SWAGGER INTO GRIEF] Broke at the book fair, couldn’t afford me a page, Other kids picking out books, I was swallowing rage. Had a head full of stories with no money to spend, Turned that hunger to a monster with a pen in my hand. Graduated out the streets, no cap, no gown, Separated the real from who was hanging around. Laid back, way back, somewhere in the pines, Chevy parked crooked, finally got some peace of mind. Pain is love, pressure busts pipes, Paid dues, made moves, made it through them rough nights. Short checks, long shifts, two dollars between us, Hot dogs, sliced cheese, white bread for dinner. I don’t miss them wild nights, I miss who was there, Those half-broke conversations, pulling up another chair. Got away from the noise, got the peace I was seeking, But I can’t call the ones who come around when I’m sleeping. [CHORUS — SAME MELODY | MORE EMOTIONAL WEIGHT] One sheep, two sheep, jumping that fence, Another old friend I get to see again. Three sheep, four sheep, don’t turn on that light, I got people on the other side waiting tonight. Counting sheep, counting years, counting who ain’t here, Every time I shut my eyes, somebody reappears. Spent my whole life chasing days I couldn’t keep, Now I’m begging for one more minute counting sheep. [BRIDGE — FRENCH | 8 LINES | INTIMATE, NEAR-SPOKEN] Je compte les nuits sans sommeil, Les souvenirs qui me réveillent. Je revois les amis d’avant, Et nos rires dans le vent. Le temps emporte tant de voix, Mais je les entends près de moi. Quand tout le monde dort enfin, Je garde leurs noms jusqu’au matin. [VERSE 3 — 12 BARS | MULTISYLLABIC CHAINS | DREAM SEQUENCE | EMOTIONAL TURN] Spent my life racing time, running blind through the years, Rammed through the pressure, swallowed pride, buried tears. Clock ticking, mind slipping, hear somebody call my name, Heart kicking, turn quick, and the room don’t look the same. Old faces, familiar places, everybody’s still here, Same laughter, same chatter, like they never disappeared. Chairs scraping, hands shaking, somebody says, “You good?” I say, “Yeah, man, I’m alright,” like I always said I would. One sheep, two sheep, now I ain’t counting to rest, I’m counting every second that I get to spend with them. Spent my whole life racing time, now I’m begging it to creep, ’Cause the only time I get ’em back is when I’m counting sheep. [FINAL CHORUS — STRIPPED | FRAGILE DELIVERY | NO BIG BUILD] One sheep, two sheep, jumping that fence, Another old friend I get to see again. Three sheep, four sheep, please don’t turn on that light, I got people on the other side waiting tonight. Counting sheep, counting years, counting who ain’t here, Every time I shut my eyes, somebody reappears. Spent my whole life chasing days I couldn’t keep, Now I’m begging for one more minute counting sheep. [OUTRO — SPOKEN | NEAR WHISPER | LONG PAUSES] One sheep… Two sheep… I hear somebody call my name. I turn around… And there you are. [PAUSE] Then the morning comes. Damn. I was just getting to see you again. Sho Nuff.

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