[Title: Halfway Through Hell] [Overall: Slow 6/8 acoustic UK pop-soul. Begin in F Major / D minor warmth, darken into B minor / D Major through the bridge and soft chorus, then return toward F Major for the final lift while keeping some B minor ache underneath.] [Verse 1: F Major / D minor. Bare syncopated acoustic guitar, close-mic chest voice, warm but uneasy.] I’m trying to explain what happened back then Without rewriting the stories my bruises kept I question each answer but my mouth’s runnin’ dry I kept myself small just to stay on your good side [Pre-Chorus: F Major with D minor shadow. Piano and upright bass enter softly; restrained vocal lift.] Mmm… Before I leave, before this ends There are things I kept caged I keep asking again [Chorus: F Major-centered acoustic soul lift with D minor undertones. Foot-stomps, handclaps, upright bass, and one restrained harmony voice.] Do I keep pushing it down? Do I push you away? Do I keep saying I’m fine when I break down through the day? Do I stand on my own or let the floor give out? Will I make it alone or let your absence ring loud? [Verse 2: Lean further into D minor. Pull back to guitar, soft piano, and light foot-stomps; intimate, tired delivery.] Why was lying so easy for you? Did I miss the signs by the nightstand? Now I exhale a sigh instead of gasping for breath, and— I sleep with the lamp off, but I’ll leave the fan on It drowns out the silence now that you’re— Gone… [Bridge: Shift into B minor. Guitar strums deepen, piano grows heavier, soft tambourine enters, one low hum underneath.] You were the hand on the back of my neck I called it shelter, but it was a shipwreck Then you convinced me I was the one Who poisoned the love you refused and ran from I was reaching for answers while you were grasping at straws Your control began slipping Now you’re clenching your jaws [Bridge Outro: Stay in B minor. Strip to low guitar, piano, and breath; emotionally strained but quiet.] Leaving you so I could still look at myself Dragged me kicking and screaming… halfway through… hell… [Pre-Chorus: Post-bridge hush in B minor, beginning to open toward D Major. Sparse claps, piano, and acoustic guitar.] Mmm… Now that you’ve left, now that I’m gone There are holes in the story you keep leaning on [Soft Chorus: D Major glow with B minor beneath it. Piano and soft guitar only; fragile, low, and intimate.] I won’t keep pushing it down Won’t let you push me around I won’t be fine by tomorrow This sting still leaves me sore But maybe this sorrow Will lead me to more Yeah, I’ll keep standing in my room even when the floor gives out I’ll make it on my own without you keeping count [Final Chorus: Return toward F Major with lingering B minor color. Biggest acoustic lift: live foot-stomps, handclaps, upright bass, tambourine, piano, guitar, and sparse soul harmonies only.] Do I keep pushing it down? Do I push you away? Do I keep saying I’m fine when my hands still shake? Do I stand on my own or let the floor give out? I will make it alone while your absence rings loud [Outro: D minor / B minor ambiguity. Instruments fall back to piano and soft guitar; intimate, unfinished, but hopeful.] I might leave the cup there I might not check the hall I might stop rehearsing how to soften the fall I might wake with no apology held under my tongue Still halfway through hell but the door isn’t shut
