Allie-Way

[Verse 1] DOS days, VGA palette, I was building bricks that fall Tetris in the dark, beveled edges on the wall Stared at the segments of a piece mid-spin Thought — what if those edges had to find their own way in? You were twelve, I was fifteen, you traced every step Bugged me how you copied; I shrugged you off, regret it Wrote a little maze and called it "Allie-Way" A floppy-disk love letter to express what I couldn't say [Chorus] For Allison — the long way home Through the gates and around, through the cross and the unknown Took over thirty years to wire it through But every path I draw still finds its way to you [Verse 2] Twin tiles locked together, partner-pair that spins as one Cross pieces tangling, four paths almost won Quad tiles maddening, but the lattice doesn't snap A red line searching for the closing of the gap I had a sketch on graph paper, gates that wouldn't move Now they pivot in the puzzle like I always knew they would The cheesy little smiley from old TwixT is a credit scroll And thirty years of distance is the loop becoming whole [Chorus] For Allison — the long way home Through the gates and around, through the cross and the unknown Took over thirty years to wire it through But every path I draw still finds its way to you [Bridge — punchier, almost spoken-word] Warning: do not solve this while you're skydiving Or summoning Cthulhu in your kitchen Do not solve this hanging out with Jeremy Piven Or pursuing tomfoolery — that's how people end up missin' Do not solve this while smoking the reefer (you will thank me) Do not solve this while you're landing a plane Do not solve this opening the Ark of the Covenant — Solve it any other day, but please, please, please refrain [Final Chorus — bigger, fuller] For Allison — the long way home Through the gates and around, through the cross and the unknown Took over thirty years to wire it through But every path I draw still finds its way to you [Outro — half-spoken, quiet] Happy birthday, kid. The circuit's complete.