Don't Call It Mercy( Picasso) ldp

TITLE: CRUELLA — DON'T CALL IT MERCY ARTIST: DJ DR LOVE — 007 FM [Live Intro — Low Spoken Bass] [Organ, blues guitar, quiet audience] Leave the music on. She got that part right. Cruella… I'll let you finish. I won't kiss the truth out of your mouth. But before you get in that car… You're gonna hear me, too. 007 FM. Band… take your time. [Verse 1 — Intimate Baritone] Black silk slipping from your shoulder, Red light falling on the floor. I reached to take your coat from habit, You weren't mine to welcome anymore. You said you couldn't keep me loving Someone you had only let me see. But I loved the woman making coffee, Barefoot in the kitchen next to me. That wasn't some illusion I invented, You were there and saying you were home. Don't turn every tender thing we lived through Into something I dreamed up alone. [Pre-Chorus — Rising Tenor] You said, "Don't make this easy." Baby, I won't make it cruel. But telling me tonight Doesn't give those months back to you. [Chorus — Full Tenor, Rich Harmonies] Take off the mask… But don't call it mercy. You finally told the truth, And the truth still hurts me. I won't hold your wrist, I won't stand before that door. But don't confuse me letting go With not loving you anymore. [High tenor] You can leave me standing… [Deep baritone] You don't get to say what I'm standing for. [Verse 2 — Rhythmic, Controlled] Hulk was waiting with your jacket, I was waiting on an honest word. He knew which ending he was getting, I was last to know what had occurred. You said you wouldn't make me compete, Good, 'cause I ain't entering that race. I won't ask another man to leave you, You already chose your place. And yes, I worked some late nights, Sometimes came home worn and hard to reach. We could've sat across that kitchen table, You could've said what you just said to me. You owned the choice; I heard you clearly, I won't put words into your mouth. But I don't have to praise the way you told me Just because you finally let it out. [Pre-Chorus — Tender Midrange] You said my hands could make you stay, I remember what yours could do. But wanting you against me Ain't enough to carry us through. [Chorus — Full Band] Take off the mask… But don't call it mercy. You finally told the truth, And the truth still hurts me. I won't hold your wrist, I won't stand before that door. But don't confuse me letting go With not loving you anymore. [Soft Falsetto] You can leave me standing… [Warm Low Finish] You don't get to say what I'm standing for. [Spoken Breakdown — Bass and Rim Click] Now listen… I heard you say I don't owe you forgiveness. You're right. And I don't owe this room a scene, either. [Audience responds] My voice being quiet Doesn't mean this didn't break something. It means I get to choose What I do with the hurt. And his name? I heard it. You don't have to say it again. [Eight-Bar Blues Guitar Solo] [Wordless male falsetto, then silence] [Bridge — Bare Baritone Building to Tenor] You asked if I was supposed to see it, I keep hearing how you answered no. Now every turned-down phone comes back to visit, Every evening you were late gets slow. But I won't spend my whole life searching Every memory for a hidden sign. Some of what we had was real to me, And I get to keep that part as mine. [Organ rises; drums build] I won't call you something ugly Just to make you easier to lose. But I won't make your leaving pretty… [Soaring Tenor] Just to take the weight— [Low Spoken Bass] Off you. [Final Chorus — Powerful Lead, Wide Harmonies] Take off the mask… But don't call it mercy. You finally told the truth, And tonight it's gonna hurt me. I won't hold your wrist, I won't stand before that door. I can love the woman leaving And still know I deserve more. [Background Voices] Let her go… Let her go… [Lead — High Tenor] I won't promise I'll be smiling… [Lead — Descending Baritone] When tomorrow comes around. But I won't spend forever By this window looking out. [Outro — Piano and Low Spoken Voice] Set the key beside the glass. I'll decide about the photographs When I can look at them. And no… Don't call at midnight To check if I'm all right. Call somebody who can hold that question Without having to heal from the answer. [Soft Sung Falsetto] Cruella… [Deep Spoken Finish] You told your truth. Now let me live with mine. Band… Play me something I can walk home to. [Warm final chord. Audience applause.]