[INTRO — MALE SPOKEN, SOLO PIANO] I remember lying there as a kid, listening through the wall. Thinking… When I grow up, my house won’t sound like this. [RAP 1 — MALE, DARK UK DRILL] Dad came home late with the night on his breath, Mum at the table with her hands on her head. Same little kitchen, same argument again, same “this is the last time” he’d promised back then. Too young to drink, old enough to hate it, bottles by the sink, Mum trying to save him. I knew from his footsteps when not to make sound, some kids feared monsters—I had mine around. Sometimes I’d catch him asleep in his chair, less like a monster, more broken in there. I promised myself with my head on the pillow: “Whatever I become, I won’t become him though.” I’d find me a girl, build a home of my own, where kids never feared their dad coming home. There was this girl on the bus into town, never knew her, still she turned my day round. In my head we had kids, Mum finally at peace, a little white house where the shouting would cease. [CHORUS — FEMALE, SOULFUL] Build me a home where the night feels safe, where love doesn’t leave when the daylight fades. Give me your hand when the hard days come, we don’t need the world—just somewhere to run. If you lose your way, come back to me, leave one little light where your heart can see. When all of the noise and the fighting is done, come home… come home. [INSTRUMENTAL — 8 BARS] [RAP 2 — MALE, GRADUAL BUILD] Then Dad died young. Funny thing about hate— you want someone gone till gone gets a date. Black tie, grey sky, Mum holding my sleeve, I’d practised the anger, not practised the grief. Drink in my hand by the side of his grave: “I’m nothing like you. I won’t end up this way.” One bag, last bus, twenty quid to my name, night shifts, cold rooms, noodles for days. Shoes split at the sole, still walked into work, hunger in your stomach makes ambition hurt. Ten doors slammed, I was back at eleven, one finally opened, felt closer to heaven. First flat, first car, Mum proud of her son. Then years later—there she was. The girl from the bus with that same little smile. I said, “Hi.” She stayed for a while. Then a ring. Two kids. Everything I’d planned. Bought Mum a house, put the keys in her hand. Fridge full of food, every bill paid on time, no bottles by sinks, no fear in their eyes. Years passed so fast, I barely knew when, that bus felt like yesterday all over again. My son spilled juice on the brand-new floor, froze like he’d just started some kind of war. I saw myself in him, waiting for the shout. I laughed, grabbed a glass: “Mate, pour some more out.” My wife next to me, Mum finally at peace, kids upstairs sleeping, no shouting beneath. Watched morning arrive and whispered with pride: “We made it, Dad. I’m not you. I survived. I kept my promise.” [INSTRUMENTAL — 8 BARS, WARM PIANO] [HARD CUT — ALL MUSIC STOPS] [RAP 3 — MALE, SPOKEN] WAIT!!! [ABSOLUTE SILENCE — 4 BEATS] Something ain’t right, this whole life feels like a lie, too perfect, too good—something’s not right. Where’s my wife? My kids? Where the hell am I? White walls, hospital bed, Mum by my side. [THREE LONELY PIANO NOTES] Clothes in a bag, something stuck in my hand, I look at Mum but she won’t look back. Nurse says, “They found you unconscious again.” [DEAD SILENCE] Again? [SILENCE — 2 BEATS] What the fuck does she mean, “again”? [BARE PIANO, NO DRUMS] I ask for my girl. Mum whispers, “Who?” And right there I know what I don’t want to be true. No wedding, no children, no house, no home— everything I remembered, I dreamed it alone. Twenty lost years thinking I’d outrun Dad, just to wake in the same place he had. I swore I’d be different, swore I’d never be him, I ran from his shadow, then walked in his steps. Mum takes my hand, barely holding her tears: “Your father used to come home like this.” [VOICE ALONE] Same woman. Same fear. Same look on her face. [LONG SILENCE] Dad wasn’t here— [PAUSE] I had taken his place. [DEEP 808 RETURNS] All those years I blamed him for choosing the drink, never stopped to see how low I could sink. For the first time I wondered who Dad was before, before all those bottles were lined by the door. Maybe he dreamed of a white house too, maybe he swore he’d make his dreams come true. Maybe before alcohol swallowed his life, he made the same promise I made every night: [BEAT CUT — WHISPER] “I’ll be different.” [CHORUS — FEMALE, TENDER] If you lose your way, come back to me, leave one little light where your heart can see. You can’t change yesterday or where you’ve been, but morning still comes if you let it begin. If your whole dream disappeared with the night, you opened your eyes— there’s still time. Come home… come home. [OUTRO — MALE SPOKEN, SOLO PIANO] I wanted to close my eyes, go back to the kids, the girl, that life. [PIANO STOPS] Then Mum squeezed my hand. The dream wasn’t real. But I was. And I was still here.
