[Intro / Verse 1 — sparse piano, serreño guitar, no drums. Somber low raspy vocal, close-mic, almost speaking. Leave space between lines.] Reaching for her lighter a few sparks flicker on Candles buried deep not as deep as what’s missing Table used to be full with faces and laughter I imagine time is a villain thrilled by reflection A pause for a wish but there’s only one she desires [Voice begins to strain. Guitar slowly rises.] If things were different [Sudden emotional belt.] THIS DAY WOULD FEEL LIKE JOOOOOOOY [Drop back down. Hurt, almost spoken.] So many candles have had their light taken away She held her hand begged her to stay Time heals all wounds until memories play Another year at this table Another cake with less faces... [Long pause.] ...on birthdays [Pre-Chorus — restrained, shaky breath. Light drums begin.] Everybody tells her make a wish She already did Another flame disappears And she knows exactly what that feels like [Chorus — drums and distorted guitar rise. Emotional melodic belt, spacious phrasing.] Cake on birthdays CAKE ON BIRTHDAAAAAAYS Another year another picture Another space nobody fills The candles keep multiplying The chairs keep disappearing She closes her eyes before she blows them away Cause getting older means missing more faces Around the cake on birthdaaaaaays [Verse 2 — instruments pull back. Low controlled rasp, conversational cadence.] Old pictures passed around the table Everybody frozen where they were She keeps getting older They never do There used to be calls before the candles Voices fighting to be first Now the phone stays quiet longer And somehow that hurts worse [Voice starts rising.] They tell her another year is a blessing But nobody tells you what to do When blessings come with empty chairs [Bridge — piano and serreño guitar only. Extremely close vocal, trying not to break.] Maybe time doesn’t heal anything Maybe it just teaches you how to carry it How to smile when the cake comes out How to stand in a room full of people you love And still notice who isn’t there [Long pause.] She doesn’t want another wish She wants another voice Another laugh Another hand across the table [Voice cracks.] Just one more time [Final Chorus — full emotional release. Distorted guitar opens wide, drums stronger but still controlled. Long sustained belts.] CAKE ON BIRTHDAAAAAAYS Another year another picture Another space nobody fills The candles keep multiplying THE CHAIRS KEEP DISAPPEARING But she’s still sitting at that table Still breathing Still remembering Still carrying every voice that used to fill that room [Maximum emotional belt.] So let them bring another candle Let another year arrive Cause every person she still carries Gets another year through her life [Outro — instruments fall back to guitar and piano. Vocal completely spent.] Another year at this table Another cake with less faces [Pause.] But she made it here She made it here [Soft final line.] ...for another birthday
