Verse 1 In the glow of the carnival lights, we’re chasing that midnight high Your fingers on my six-string, but the frets are sayin’ goodbye We laugh through the smoke and the champagne, like the good times never die But the mirror in the green room’s tellin’ truths we can’t deny Pre-Chorus We built this dream on hotel keys and promises we swore Now the road’s a crooked lover knockin’ louder at the door Chorus Don’t let the music end us, baby, don’t let the song run dry We’re still singin’ through the fire, still dancin’ while we cry I know you’re hurtin’, Lord I’m hurtin’ too But hold me in the harmony — it’s all that’s left of me and you Verse 2 Tara, your voice still cuts me like a pedal steel in the dark But backstage whispers slither like a knife through the spark Stolen glances in the spotlight, stolen nights in stolen cars Carnal Carnival’s still spinnin’, but we’re losin’ who we are Pre-Chorus The rides keep turnin’ faster, but the ticket taker’s gone One more town, one more town, before the lights come on Chorus Don’t let the music end us, baby, don’t let the song run dry We’re still singin’ through the fire, still dancin’ while we cry I know you’re hurtin’, Lord I’m hurtin’ too But hold me in the harmony — it’s all that’s left of me and you Bridge (half-time, intimate, almost spoken over nylon-string guitar) We love like sinners on a Sunday, burnin’ up the stage But if the music dies tonight, who’s gonna turn the page? Yeah, the carnival’s still callin’, but the freaks are feelin’ small One more chorus, one more breath… before we lose it all Guitar Solo (that classic Eagles twin-lead soar — 30 seconds of pure ’77 magic) Final Chorus (big harmonies, full band, then stripping back to just voices and acoustic) Don’t let the music end us, darlin’, keep the harmony alive Through the pain and through the passion, we can still survive Yeah we’re hurtin’, but this love is stronger than the fall Don’t let the music end us… Not tonight… not at all… (Fade on layered harmonies and echoing guitar, 4:27 exact)
