[Intro] [Slow cinematic soul. SFX: Street ambiance, vinyl crackle, ticking clock, crowd murmurs. Analog pads, sweeping strings] [Vocal: Haunting theatrical breathy baritone] I’m carrying the grief of the change while they are just blindly walking through it. A man walked home, he walked alone. A man and his smiles, all the pain, no gain, all gone. A man in the room, reading others like they assume, A man, oh the only man, that smiles or frowns two weeks in advance. [Verse 1] [Tempo up. SFX: Grinding gears. SP-404 drum machine, bitcrushed bass] [Vocal: Smooth 90s rap flow. Fast, dense, in the pocket] Yeah, let me break down the mechanics, explain who he is, Why he carries the weight when he handles his biz. He ain’t buoyant, but he ain't drowning in the blue, He’s the last in the room, but the first one leaving you. Clairvoyant—yeah, it scares 'em when he calls the play, Sees the sirens in the distance 'fore they even on the way. He ain’t arguing with fate, he’s just tracking the mistakes, Calculating every tremor right before the ground shakes. A year passes by, now he’s keeping it brief, Just reading the eyes, the accusations, the leave. [Verse 2] [Bouncy lofi funk. SFX: Audience rhythmic clapping. 8-bit synths over SP-404] [Vocal: Sarcastic, rhythmic, percussive hiccups, breathy joy] But who is he? (kuff em who - eh) Well he is someone who cares! Well he is someone who stays! He is, oh he is, an urgent rush of love, Through the thick of the haze! Doesn't matter if it's family, a stranger, or friend, He resigns from the fight just to see how it ends. Why fight when love can take us any night? He is half shy! (Laughs) Half respectful, well-put, Hey girls—he is single, keeping one on the foot! Prays five times a day, breaks a rule, circles back, He’s a victim, he’s proud, hiding right in the crack— Behind a prism! [Verse 3] [Lofi hip-hop flow, heavy intensity. Marching rhythm joins SP-404, orchestral brass swells] [Vocal: Aggressive, taking command] So why is he acting like he’s walking through the fire? Every time he grabbed the mic, the tension got higher! Parks the car, they impressed, but the truth makes 'em sweat, I choose my own standards, I ain't settling yet. I’m booking every suite, no one’s leaving the floor, I’m calculating digits from the ceiling to the door! Rounding out the mood from June straight to December, Marching in the present, making sure they remember! [Bridge] [SP-404 drums stop. Slow creeping doom. SFX: Clockwork accelerates, crowd falls silent. Dark synthwave orchestra, massive strings] [Vocal: Dramatic soul-baring operatic tenor scream] He is marching this instant, he is becoming the victim... The victim... The ….. AAAAAAAAAAH, THE VICTIM! If anyone is brilliant yet benevolent, I consent, Reach out, he will be there when the lighting gets dim! Hyper self-aware, he's a picture in full paint, Twisted and complex, neither sinner nor a saint! Unless... Unless... The man in the room is trapped seeing only doom. Dooooom. Oooh, doom. Does he rise and prep the jet? Or enjoy the ride exactly where he sits? [Chorus] [Slow soul tempo, heavy marching rhythm, synth pads, massive brass] [Vocal: Powerful theatrical baritone] I’m carrying the grief of the change while they are just blindly walking through it. A man walked home, he walked alone. A man and his smiles, all the pain, no gain, all gone. A man in the room, reading others like they assume, A man, oh the only man, that smiles or frowns two weeks in advance! [Outro] [Massive cinematic synthwave explosion. Fast, driving, triumphant. SFX: Audience cheers, clock ticks max speed. Huge brass, bitcrushed bass, SP-404. No guitars] [Vocal: Raw human stutter turning into aggressive dominant belt] I love that guy, I want to stay that guy! I’m still….. that… guy! I'M STILL THAT GUY! I refuse to shrink my bandwidth to make the room more comfortable! Oh I refuse, oh I refuse. I— I— I— I— I... I— I... REFUUUUUUSE! I love that guy, I want to stay that guy. I’m still….. that… guy. I'M STILL THAT GUY! [SFX: Sharp heavy synth bass slap. Crowd noise and crackle cut instantly. One final clock tick. Silence.]
