[Intro – Live microphone feedback, amplifier hum, someone tapping a microphone] [VOICE A – Quiet spoken baritone] "Can you hear me in the back?" [Brief silence] "Alright. Here goes." [Heavy syncopated guitar riff kicks in, explosive live drums] [Verse 1 – VOICE A ONLY: Deep dry baritone rapper, conversational fast rhythmic flow, nervous excitement turning into confidence] I signed my name on a Thursday night Under seven other names in a bar off the highway The guy behind the counter said, "You're number eight" I looked at the clock like it might let me escape A rented microphone and a borrowed guitar Twelve people talking at the back of the bar My hands wouldn't listen when I tried to tune I was thirty years too late and ten minutes too soon I'd spent my whole life saying "Maybe next year" Putting every little dream in a drawer marked fear Now the guy at the sound desk is waving at me And I'm walking toward a place I never thought I'd be [Pre-Chorus – VOICE B ONLY: Different higher raspy tenor, restrained emotional melodic vocals] My knees are shaking My mouth is dry There's no one left To ask me why [Chorus – VOICE B ONLY: Explosive powerful raspy melodic singing, huge catchy hook, heavy guitars] GIVE ME THREE MINUTES! I DON'T NEED A LIFETIME! LET MY HANDS SHAKE! AT LEAST THESE HANDS ARE MINE! GIVE ME THREE MINUTES! LET THE WHOLE THING GO WRONG! I'D RATHER FAIL IN FRONT OF EVERYONE THAN NEVER SING MY SONG! [Post-Chorus – Heavy instrumental groove, guitar harmonics, turntable scratches] [Verse 2 – VOICE A ONLY: Deep baritone rapper, urgent precise rhythm, playful and increasingly confident] I hit the wrong chord on the very first line Forgot half a verse, had to make up a rhyme Somebody dropped a glass, somebody shouted "Hey!" For a second I forgot why I'd come anyway Then a woman by the jukebox started tapping her shoe And a kid near the doorway knew a word or two Was it brilliant? No. Was it clean? Not quite But I hadn't felt this awake in half my life All the years I wasted being scared of looking dumb All the music in my head that never made it past my tongue Now my voice is going hoarse and my fingers are bleeding And I'm laughing at myself because I know that I'm still singing [Chorus – VOICE B ONLY: Massive soaring rock vocals, aggressive guitars, layered harmonies] GIVE ME THREE MINUTES! I DON'T NEED A LIFETIME! LET MY HANDS SHAKE! AT LEAST THESE HANDS ARE MINE! GIVE ME THREE MINUTES! LET THE WHOLE THING GO WRONG! I'D RATHER FAIL IN FRONT OF EVERYONE THAN NEVER SING MY SONG! [Instrumental Break – Sudden tempo-feel shift, bass and drums lock into a funky half-time nu metal groove] [Bridge – Instruments drop to amplifier hum and quiet heartbeat kick] [VOICE A – Dry intimate spoken delivery] When I was seventeen I thought I'd be somebody by now. Funny thing is... I never asked myself What that was supposed to mean. [VOICE A – Aggressive rhythmic rap building with the drums] No record deal, no thousand fans No flashing lights, no master plan A plastic cup beside my feet An old guitar with missing strings I thought success would have a sound Like fifty thousand people shouting Turns out sometimes all you need Is one good reason to keep playing! [VOICE B – Gritty emotional singing building into a scream] THEY CAN KEEP THEIR SPOTLIGHT! [VOICE B – Explosive raw scream] I'M ALREADY HERE! [Breakdown – Crushing down-tuned guitar riff, massive half-time drums, aggressive bass and scratches] [Final Chorus – VOICE B ONLY: Euphoric yet gritty melodic rock vocals, soaring sustained notes] GIVE ME THREE MINUTES! I DON'T NEED A LIFETIME! LET MY HANDS SHAKE! AT LEAST THESE HANDS ARE MINE! GIVE ME THREE MINUTES! LET THE WHOLE THING GO WRONG! I'D RATHER FAIL IN FRONT OF EVERYONE THAN NEVER SING MY SONG! [Outro – Instruments cut, small room ambience and scattered applause] [VOICE A – Quiet spoken voice, slightly breathless] "Thanks." [Pause] "Seriously... thanks." [VOICE B – Soft melodic final line] Three minutes were enough... [End – Amplifier clicks off]
