[Intro — intimate opening, restrained instrumentation] Your name lit up my phone at midnight "Can you meet me at the gate?" I heard you trying not to cry And said, "I'm coming. I'll wait." [Verse 1 — gentle, intimate vocals] You held your coat around your shoulders At the station’s closing gate One small lantern in your hands One last train running late I saw the bruise beneath your sleeve You blamed the cold and turned away I took the space beside you And stayed until you could breathe [Pre-Chorus 1 — gentle melodic rise] Your phone lit up; you looked away I didn't ask you to explain No debt, no vow, no price to pay Just take the time you need today [Chorus 1 — enormous, warm melodic lift] I will stand between you and the storm I will keep the door unbarred You can set your burden down You don’t have to be on guard You can tell me half the story I won't make you see it through You don't have to prove you're hurting For me to believe in you If the whole wide world turns hard If the night comes pressing through I will stand between the storm and you [Verse 2 — quieter, reflective; intimate emotional tension] You kept your coat on at my table Though the room was warm and bright Your phone lit up; you turned it over Then watched it half the night No questions asked, no old names spoken No demand to tell me why You whispered, "Maybe I deserved it" And couldn't meet my eyes [Pre-Chorus 2 — gentle but increasingly powerful] I said, "You didn't earn that bruise" And left the next step up to you No debt, no vow, no price to pay Your own two feet will find the way [Chorus 2 — wider harmonies; greater emotional weight] I will stand between you and the storm I will keep the door unbarred You can set your burden down You don’t have to be on guard You can tell me half the story I won't make you see it through You don't have to prove you're hurting For me to believe in you If the whole wide world turns hard If the night comes pressing through I will stand between the storm and you [Bridge — intimate, vulnerable; gradual instrumental build] You are not the hurt they handed you Not the words they left behind You can choose what happens next You don't owe them one more night You can ask for space tomorrow I can give you room to breathe I won't turn a hand held out to you Into one more thing you owe [Instrumental — extended emotional melodic lead; gradually expanding instrumentation and layered harmonies] [Final Chorus I — enormous, soaring vocals; full instrumental impact] I will stand between you and the storm I will keep the door unbarred You can set your burden down You don’t have to be on guard You can tell me half the story I won't make you see it through You don't have to prove you're hurting For me to believe in you When the whole wide world turns hard When the night comes pressing through I will stand— I will stand between the storm and you [Final Chorus II — higher melodic lift; layered harmonies; emotional climax] You can take your time deciding You can choose another way You don't owe me your tomorrows For the kindness of today If the fear comes back at midnight If it tells you you're to blame You can speak or sit in silence I won't make you say a name If the whole wide world turns hard If the night comes pressing through I will stand— I will stand between the storm and you [Outro — instruments fall away; intimate closing vocal] You moved your coat onto the chair And asked if you could stay a while
