[Intro — 4 Bars] [Soft applause, upright bass, brushed snare] [Muted trumpet: original four-note signature motif] [Close-mic male spoken, warm smile] Well, look at that. The band is packing up… And you’re still here. [Soft chuckle] Now that’s my kind of evening. [Hook Teaser — Intimate, Sung] One more for the road, One more for the night. If there’s one more song, Let’s get this one right. [Verse 1 — Conversational Swing] I’ve watched the sunrise over Rome, Made a thousand hotel rooms my home. I’ve heard my name from balcony seats, And lost a few good years to city streets. I’ve danced with fortune, flirted with fame, Seen pretty lights forget my name. But every road and every view Was one more road that led to you. [Pre-Chorus — Strings Rise] The waiter’s stacking chairs away, The piano man has earned his pay. But there’s a little time to steal, And one more thing I’d like to feel. [Chorus — Warm, Full Swing] One more for the road, One more for the night. One last little dance Beneath the fading lights. Let the whole world go, We’ve got nowhere to be. If there’s one more song, Save that song for me. Oh, one more for the road, Before we say goodnight. I’ve had a thousand standing ovations, But you make the last one right. [Turnaround — 4 Bars] [Muted trumpet motif] [Finger snaps, piano flourish] [Upright bass meets subtle modern kick] [Verse 2 — Playful, Charming] I’ve worn out shoes on ballroom floors, Forgotten keys to famous doors. I’ve toasted strangers, kissed goodbyes, And learned that gold can lose its shine. I’ve sung for kings, or so they claimed, And watched the world forget their names. But you were there when curtains fell, When I had nothing left to sell. [Ad-lib, softly] Except another song. [Pre-Chorus — Rising Brass] So tell the driver not to wait, The stars can mind themselves till late. And if the drummer’s still around, There’s one more rhythm to be found. [Chorus — Brighter, More Rhythmic] One more for the road, One more for the night. One last little dance Beneath the fading lights. Let the whole world go, We’ve got nowhere to be. If there’s one more song, Save that song for me. Oh, one more for the road, Before we say goodnight. I’ve had a thousand standing ovations, But you make the last one right. [Instrumental Break — 16 Bars] [8 bars: expressive muted trumpet solo] [8 bars: playful tenor saxophone reply] [Walking upright bass, elegant piano] [Modern warm four-on-the-floor groove] [Bright brass accents, finger snaps] [Original four-note motif develops] [No lead vocals] [Bridge — Vulnerable, Almost Spoken] [Drums stop, solo piano, intimate strings] When the photographs have faded, And the posters leave the wall, When the room forgets the singer And the curtain takes its final fall… Will you meet me by the doorway, Like you always used to do? ‘Cause if nobody remembers, I’ll remember dancing here with you. [Spoken, tender] May I have this one? [Final Build — 8 Bars] [Soft brushed snare, rising strings] [Trumpet motif climbs an octave] [Brass fanfare, full band crescendo] [One-beat silence] [Final Chorus — Grand Encore] [Joyful full orchestra, rich lead vocal] One more for the road, One more for the night. One last little dance Beneath the fading lights. Let the whole world go, We’ve got nowhere to be. If there’s one more song, Save that song for me. Oh, one more for the road, Before we say goodnight. I’ve had a thousand standing ovations… [Band drops to piano] But you’re the one Who stayed when they turned out the lights. [Outro — Elegant, Loopable] [Trumpet reprises four-note motif] [Walking bass, piano, brushed snare] [Spoken, smiling] Now, wasn’t that worth staying for? [Pause] Same time tomorrow, sweetheart? [Soft laugh] I’ll save you the first dance. [Warm major-sixth ending chord] [End]
