[Cold open — close, rough-edged singing; muted guitar pulse] Everybody’s fine Till somebody tells the truth [Two-bar guitar riff — low bent note, sharp chord answer; live drums enter] [Verse 1 — conversational; bass and guitar leave space] Ben’s got a joke about his boss We laugh before he gets it out Sam says the house is nearly sold Then asks us what the score is now I say that work is keeping me From getting any proper sleep We pass the mustard, talk the rain Nobody asks a second time [Pre-Chorus — melody climbs; snare opens] Then Ben runs out of things to say Starts picking at the paper plate He says, “I haven’t felt like me” And no one reaches for a joke [Chorus — broad, singable melody; full band, one lead] Everybody’s fine Everybody’s fine We can say it in our sleep We can say it through our teeth Everybody’s fine Till somebody tells the truth If I don’t have to be fine I could stay a while with you [Post-Chorus — descending melodic answer; guitar fills] A while with you A while with you [Verse 2 — warmer, more direct; steady groove] Sam says he’s sleeping at his mum’s The house was never his to sell I say I lost my job in June I’ve got the tie on a shelf Ben lets a laugh out through his nose Says, “Well, we’re quite the winning team” The joke is bad, the laugh is real The first all night that sounds like me [Pre-Chorus — stripped first two lines; build gently] Nobody finds the perfect words Nobody tells him it could be worse We let the silence have its turn For once, there’s nothing to rehearse [Chorus — stronger lift; selective same-voice doubles] Everybody’s fine Everybody’s fine We can say it in our sleep We can say it through our teeth Everybody’s fine Till somebody tells the truth If I don’t have to be fine I could stay a while with you [Instrumental — eight bars; melodic guitar solo develops the opening riff, no shredding] [Bridge — exposed voice, bass and quiet room drums] I nearly didn’t come tonight Sat in the car outside your place Practised “Good, and how are you?” Then put that smile back on my face [Two-bar pause in intensity; voice close] You ask again I take my time [Final Chorus — warmer harmony; strongest vocal, no shouting] Everybody’s fine Everybody’s fine That’s the line we used to say When we needed you to stay Everybody’s fine Till somebody tells the truth I don’t have to be fine To spend a Friday night with you [Outro — band falls back to original guitar pulse] Next week, same place I’ll bring something You say, “Just yourself” [Short guitar answer; natural room decay]
