Verse 1 Spring of ’88, ward campout weekend, Not “an item,” not even close, You rode in with another carpool, I brought my friends and my nervous hope. Friday night I’m doing math in my head— “Who can I convince to ride back home?” ’Cause I wanted five hours beside you More than I wanted to look grown. Pre-Chorus I played it cool like it didn’t matter, But my heart was already in overdrive— I just needed one brave moment To finally arrive. Chorus One millimeter at a time, That’s how a scared man gets brave, Five hours of desert highway, Trying not to shake. No smooth lines, no big romance— Just me, fighting my own fear, Crossing that space between us One millimeter at a time. Verse 2 Saturday morning—cliff and rope line, Reppelling like we knew what to do, Both of us acting fearless ’Cause we wanted to impress the truth. Then Arches in the afternoon, Delicate Arch up in the sky, Three hours of walking and talking— Careers, politics, reasons why. And I thought, “Man, she’s brilliant… And I think she might be mine.” Pre-Chorus 2 But we’re still acting thirteen, Like a junior-high slow dance— All that closeness… and still no hands, Still no chance. Chorus One millimeter at a time, That’s how a scared man gets brave, Five hours of desert highway, Trying not to shake. No smooth lines, no big romance— Just me, fighting my own fear, Crossing that space between us One millimeter at a time. Verse 3 So there we are in the Civic, Two buddies in the backseat row, And I’m staring at your hand like It’s the finish line I can’t quite reach, you know? My hand starts on the console— Then drifts like it’s got a mind… And mile by mile, inch by inch, I’m making my way across that line. Bridge I’m also planning the drop-off route That makes no logistical sense— And one of my friends is calling it out, Like, “Devin, why are you doing this?” I start explaining nonsense And my face turns bright red— Then the other one laughs and says, “He’s trying to get Gail alone at the end.” Pre-Chorus 3 Busted… and grateful, ’Cause now it’s out in the open air— And somehow that makes it easier To finally… get there. Final Chorus One millimeter at a time, ’Til I touched your hand at last, And you didn’t pull away, So the moment didn’t crash. Twenty minutes of holding steady, Like the whole world disappeared— And I learned what love is made of When you let me hold you near. Yeah, I crossed that space between us One millimeter at a time. Outro Then I walked you to your door, Helped you with your gear, Heart pounding like a drumline— And I kissed my future there. Desert dust, porch light, midnight… Still laughing, still true— ’Cause that weekend wasn’t just a kiss… It was me and you.
