Style: 80s new wave / synth-pop anthem with icy arpeggiators, rubbery chorus-bass, gated snare, handclaps, bright analog synth stabs, romantic vocals, and a neon-mythology atmosphere. Tempo: 132 BPM in 4/4. Suggested key: A minor. Main progression: Am – F – C – G with a driving eighth-note bass. Chorus lift: F – G – Am – C. Add synth hook after every chorus: Am–Am–F–G with a bright lead melody. Intro [Am] Neon on the altar, your shadow hits the light [F] Ancient stars are pulsing like a nightclub satellite [C] Gold dust on the sidewalk, lipstick on the glass [G] We dance into tomorrow with the lovers of the past Performance notes: Start with synth arpeggio, gated snare hits on beats 2 and 4, and a breathy vocal. Add whispered backing vocals on “satellite” and “past.” Verse 1 [Am] We built our towers higher, blue steel in the sky [F] Painted gods on TV asking lovers why [C] From clay and candle prayers to passwords in the rain [G] Same old human heartbeat in a brand-new frame Performance notes: Keep the verse clipped and rhythmic, almost spoken on the first two lines. Let the bassline bounce under every phrase. Pre-Chorus [F] New life—old life—flashing in your eyes [G] New life—old life—wearing new disguise [Am] If tomorrow is a mirror where the old worlds shine [C] Tell me, baby, are we out of time? Performance notes: Make “New life—old life” a chant with call-and-response backing vocals. Build with rising synth pads and handclaps. Chorus [F] Oh-oh, Temple of Neon [G] We burn bright, but we keep holding on [Am] Oh-oh, fire in the stone [C] Are we reborn or just renamed alone? [F] New life! Old life! Under one moonlight [G] Ancient heartbeat in a modern night Performance notes: Big hook. Crowd echoes “Oh-oh” and shouts “New life! Old life!” Add stacked harmonies and a bright synth brass stab after “modern night.” Verse 2 [Am] We traded rivers for highways, wild stars for screens [F] Still chase love in the glow of beautiful machines [C] Kings wore crowns like sunrise, now the logos shine like gold [G] Same old empire spinning in a future made of chrome Performance notes: Add sharp synth stabs between lines. Sing “beautiful machines” smoother and more romantic, then punch “future made of chrome.” Pre-Chorus 2 [F] New life—old life—glitter in the rain [G] New life—old life—different face, same flame [Am] If the future wears the jewels of civilizations gone [C] Are we moving, or repeating the song? Performance notes: Repeat the chant louder than the first pre-chorus. Drop the drums for half a beat before “Are we moving.” Chorus [F] Oh-oh, Temple of Neon [G] We burn bright, but we keep holding on [Am] Oh-oh, fire in the stone [C] Are we reborn or just renamed alone? [F] New life! Old life! Under one moonlight [G] Ancient heartbeat in a modern night Performance notes: Repeat with extra backing vocals. Add a short instrumental synth hook immediately after this chorus before the bridge. Bridge [Dm] Babylon to broadband [Am] Marble halls to chrome [F] We keep looking for heaven [G] In every signal home [Dm] Oracle online now [Am] Sphinx in the street [F] Every civilization [G] Still trembles to the beat Performance notes: Strip to bass, kick, and vocoder-style backing vocals. Build back with tom fills and rising synth noise into the final chorus. Final Chorus [F] Oh-oh, Temple of Neon [G] We burn bright, but we keep holding on [Am] Oh-oh, fire in the stone [C] Are we reborn or just renamed alone? [F] New life! Old life! Dancing side by side [G] Ancient heartbeat with a future light [Am] Oh-oh, let the centuries ignite [C] Yesterday dressed in tomorrow’s light Performance notes: Full 80s finish: double-tracked lead vocal, crowd chant on “New life! Old life!,” gated snare fills, and repeating synth hook to fade. Outro [Am] Neon on the altar, your shadow hits the light [F] New life, old life—fade into the night Performance notes: End with repeating arpeggiator, distant “Oh-oh” backing vocals, and a final gated snare hit into reverb.
