[Intro – harpsichord alone, single low tom, voice close and unhurried] Three o'clock. The house is mine again. No one on the stairs but me, and you, still warm where the sun was. [key ring, one turn] Old house - I'm here Let's begin... [Verse 1 – alto, spacious, bass synth easing in near the end] The long-case in the hall goes first, brass face, eight turns, not a turn more. You run so slow when the rain gets in. I've never held that - against you. The parlour now, the small one, the one that sticks, You're always cold by two. I know. I know. I know. I'm not late my dear Never once I breathe on the key before it turns. A breath - just for you.... [Pre-Chorus – strings enter low, tom pattern gathering] Nothing in my hands on the first flight up, nine steps, then the landing. I'll count them out loud for you, the way you count for me. One - two - [Chorus – full strings, voice lifting into head voice, reverb opening] Stay warm for me, stay wound, stay counting, stay. Keep the hallway ticking while I climb. Don't stop while I'm on the stairs. I have every key, I have all night, so keep me in your hours and I'll keep - you in mine. [Verse 2 – same melody, denser phrasing, strings holding under, tom doubled] Upstairs now. The blue room, the one above the hall. This case is older than the wing it stands in. Eleven turns. It has never asked for more. The end room, the long one, I keep for last. Someone stopped you. Set your hands. Closed you up. They meant it kindly, I think. I wound you anyway. I wind you every night. You were not finished - and neither am I. [Chorus] Stay warm for me, stay wound, stay counting, stay. Keep the hallway ticking while I climb. Don't stop. Not one of you. Not ever. I have every key, I have all night, so keep me in your hours and I'll keep - you in mine. [Bridge – everything falls away, harpsichord alone, voice close, unhurried] The hour's done. I should be down by now. [a clock ticking, close] You were wound for someone. I know. I know who. I'll sit a while. The rest of the house can wait for me - tonight. [longer silence, the ticking continues alone] [Verse 3 – cadence resumes, voice doubled with itself for the first time, strings low and warm] Down the corridor. Back to the hall. Brass face first, the way we always do. If I don't come, you slow. If you slow, so does the morning. So does the light in every window on this road. That's not a burden, love. That's just what I'm for. [Outro – strings thin out, harpsichord last, voice dropping low] The last one. Eight turns, not a turn more. Stay warm for me my dear stay wound, stay counting, stay. [the house quiet] [one tick she did not start]
