[INSTRUMENTAL — vibraphone and twang riff, bongos setting the 5/4 skip] [VERSE 1 — sly melodic phrasing, muted brass answering] A boy in a white jacket met us at the customs shed He didn't check our faces, he just said, "The boss extends" He handed Mara an envelope embossed with Voss's gold Inside, a photograph of Eli smiling [PRE-CHORUS — rising melody, strings tightening] One page for the meeting One page for the terms One picture of a brother Who looked thinner [CHORUS — lilting dangerous hook, vibraphone sparkling] The boss's invitation The boss's invitation Come alone Bring what you stole [VERSE 2 — quicker vocal, guitar curling around the lines] It said, "Pier Nine at midnight, bring the books, keep the cash" It said, "Your brother walks out with you and nobody looks back" Mara read it twice and folded it into a little square I said, "You know it's bait" [CHORUS — lilting dangerous hook, vibraphone sparkling] The boss's invitation The boss's invitation Come alone Bring what you stole [BRIDGE — vocal close, bass and muted brass tiptoeing] She said, "Of course it's bait, but look, he's brought Eli near" I said, "He brought Eli because he knows you're here" She said, "You can leave me here", I said, "Stop saying that" I took the envelope [INSTRUMENTAL — swirling phaser guitar solo, vibraphone trading bars] [VERSE 3 — urgent vocal, bongos keeping the spring] We found a room above a chandlery and counted what remained One bundle for the lawyer, one brown bag full of names I copied the first ten pages in the chandler's back room Mara watched me through the gloom [PRE-CHORUS — rising melody, full band lifting] One copy for the meeting One copy for the mail One person I could still trust Outside the room [CHORUS — fullest hook, brass and strings joining] The boss's invitation The boss's invitation Come alone Bring what you stole [OUTRO — vibraphone fading into swirling guitar] The boss's invitation The boss's invitation We said no And went
