[Intro — 94 BPM, Key of F Major, warm male lead vocal, muted trumpet swell over clavinet skank guitar] [Verse 1 — vocal-forward, laid-back phrasing, Rhodes chords underneath] Paint peeled off the porch where you and I first stood Rain came and stripped it down to the wood I didn't walk away, I picked the brush back up Some things you gotta love more than once [Pre-Chorus — vocals building, horn stabs entering] One coat never holds against the weather Takes more than a good day to stay together So I'm back again with color in my hand Ready to go over old ground and make it stand [Chorus — full vocal, horns and clavinet locked in the pocket, falsetto ad-libs in the pockets] This is the second coat, baby, not the first Brushing over cracks, making sure they don't get worse Layer after layer till the whole thing gleams I ain't painting promises, I'm painting what love means [Verse 2 — vocal pulled back down, muted trumpet answering the line] The sun will fade a color if you let it sit too long So I keep touching up what already felt strong Not because it's broken, just because it's worth the time A house looks new when somebody keeps the line [Chorus — repeat, vocal doubled for width] This is the second coat, baby, not the first Brushing over cracks, making sure they don't get worse Layer after layer till the whole thing gleams I ain't painting promises, I'm painting what love means [Bridge — stripped to bass and Rhodes, vocal soft and close] Could be the first coat only gets you noticed Second one is what keeps you protected Third, fourth, however many it takes I'll keep the ladder up for as long as it takes [Chorus — final, horns full, group harmony on the last line] This is the second coat, baby, not the first Brushing over cracks, making sure they don't get worse Layer after layer till the whole thing gleams I ain't painting promises, I'm painting what love means [Outro — falsetto ad-libs, clavinet and horns fading out] Second coat... second coat... Still here with the brush in my hand Second coat... second coat...
