[Intro – soft, no drums, airy guitar + light banjo plucks] [low, breathy hum – tonal, almost spoken] --- [Verse 1 – talk-sung, flat melody, close mic, minimal bounce] Window cracked and ember glow Smoke hangs heavy, movin’ slow Phone goes dark, I check again Thinkin’ you might still come in Didn’t feel it, windows down Didn’t hear it, tires loud Kill the engine, sound goes still Now it’s me and what I feel --- [Hook – slight melodic lift, smooth, controlled breath, DO NOT over-sing] [melody: rise 1-2-3, fall, then lift and hold on line 3] That’s when it hits [short lift, quick – no hold] When it’s all still [fall back down, softer tone] When the smoke hangs low around me [main lift – stretch “low” or “round”, airy sustain] I can’t sit still [resolve, clipped, back in pocket] You come back in [start slightly higher than first line] Slow and real [drop again, relaxed] In the drag, in the burn, [repeat lift pattern, gentle hold] The smoke hangs low [short, grounded ending] --- [Verse 2 – same tone as Verse 1, slightly more weight emotionally] Stayed out late to dodge that door Didn’t wanna hear that floor Laugh too loud just kill your name Still it finds me all the same Keys drop down, no one there Cold sink, quiet in the air Thought I left it somewhere gone But it’s here when lights go off --- [Hook – identical melody, slightly fuller backing, add light harmony pad] That’s when it hits When it’s all still When the smoke hangs low around me I can’t sit still You come back in Slow and real In the drag, in the burn The smoke hangs low --- [Bridge – hypnotic loop, near monotone, subtle beat emphasis, intimate] [very minimal melody, almost spoken rhythm] Up smokin’ ‘bout you Still smokin’ ‘bout you Up smokin’ ‘bout you Still smokin’ ‘bout you Try not thinkin’ ‘bout you All night long Say I’m done with you Flame runs through you Still it pulls me to you All night long --- [Outro Hook – stripped, emotional, remove percussion, let space breathe] [softest vocal, slight rasp, more air in tone] That’s when it hits When it’s all still Last drag burnin’ down slow On the windowsill You come back in Like you will In the smoke, in the burn The smoke hangs low
