▄█▄ HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE ▄█▄ © Maxwell Edwards · 2026 Design [Verse 1 - close English baritone, prepared piano, coin-like ticks] The suit goes back at half past nine I tuck the tag against my spine You kiss the powder off my cheek I check the mirror as you speak A coin, a card, a borrowed ring I make a show of everything You ask if we can just go home I say one more, you check your phone [Build - bandoneon swells, drum subdivisions tighten, stereo widens] [Chorus - anti-drop: dry voice, deep bass, finger snaps] Hold your applause Hold out your hand I'm shaking for real It's not in the act Hold your applause Leave on the light Stay for the part I never get right [Instrumental - piano and bandoneon alternate single notes left and right; bass keeps the pulse] [Verse 2 - Spanish, agile syncopation, full groove returns] Tu silla vacía, tu abrigo en el bar Me quito los guantes, te salgo a buscar Les debo otro truco, te debo escuchar La sala me llama, la dejo llamar [Pre-Chorus - French, intimate half-sung delivery, percussion recedes] Tu dis mon prénom, pas mon nom de scène Je cherche mes mots, tu attends quand même [Chorus - wider broken groove, same melody, piano attacks become rubbery electronic replies] Hold your applause Hold out your hand I'm shaking for real It's not in the act Hold your applause Leave on the light Stay for the part I never get right [Instrumental Break - contrary-motion piano runs over steady bass; subdivisions accelerate, pulse stays fixed] [Break - one bar of silence] [Bridge - Tagalog, bare chest voice, isolated piano notes] Sandali, huwag ka munang umalis Hindi biro 'tong sasabihin Kanina pa 'ko nanginginig Takot akong maiwan dito [Spoken Word - English, audible breath] I made a living disappearing Then blamed you when you looked away [Final Chorus - unchanged melody, descending chromatic bass, broad half-time drums, instrumental hocket between lines] Hold your applause Hold out your hand I'm shaking for real It's not in the act Hold your applause Leave on the light Stay for the part I never get right [Outro - ensemble locks to the hook rhythm, then holds the final chord] Hold your applause (I'm still here) [End - natural chord decay]
