[Intro – upright bass alone, brushes, then muted trumpet enters, slow and unhurried] [Verse 1 – half-spoken, low] Some let Jacques choose, don't wanna know what's coming Some know their bottle by the label in the dark Some only ever wanted the bubbles And a Tuesday's reason enough to pull the cork Three doors cut in the same old wall One stage, one band, one last call [Chorus – sung, horn section swells, trombone answers each line] You're on the list, you're through the door Nobody's gonna ask you what you're here for Three ways in and none of 'em out That's what a Backstage Pass is about [Verse 2 – spoken blues, bass and brushes only, trumpet stabs between lines] The Headliner's ordering for the table The Deep Cut reads the back before the front The Encore never needed an occasion The Festival Crew said yes before you asked The Regular's in the same chair, same glass, same song And the Easy Rider corked it for Sunday all along Six kinds of thirsty, one room, one night Every one of you is here, and every one is right [Chorus – sung, full horns] You're on the list, you're through the door Nobody's gonna ask you what you're here for Three ways in and none of 'em out That's what a Backstage Pass is about [Trumpet Solo – 8 bars, muted, over walking bass] [Verse 3 – whispered, close to the mic, piano only] We came for one bottle and somehow stole the moon Built the playlist somewhere between bottle two and bad ideas If we remember all of this tomorrow, we did it wrong That's not a warning, that's the song [Bridge – bass and piano, trumpet held long and soft] Skip a round if the rack's still full Switch the stage if the mood has turned Take a breath, we'll hold your place Just don't hand back what you earned The lights stay on, the door stays open Nobody leaves this band alone Nobody leaves this band alone [Final Chorus – full band, horns wide open, trombone slides] You're on the list, you're through the door Nobody's gonna ask you what you're here for Three ways in and none of 'em out That's what a Backstage Pass is about [Outro – tempo drops, singer and a second voice trade lines, cool and low] And if you ever need us, we're a call away (Twenty-one) (Eight-seven-six) (Two-nine-oh-three) Say it again for the people at the back (Twenty-one) (Eight-seven-six) (Two-nine-oh-three) Drink different. Live loudly. Goodnight, Franschhoek. [Trumpet fades out alone]
