[KKB production and style] [Intro] (soft, close-mic, almost spoken — talking someone off a ledge) Easy now, put it down love. Come away from the door. Set the box cutter on the sink; we've done this dance before. It's that time of year, I know — Never Forget, I can tell. Come here... come here... I still love you, ya little ne'er-do-well. [Verse 1] You said it at the sink with the TV on low, "The towers — that was me." (Whispered) "Baby, I already know." You brace for me to bolt, but I'm not going anywhere — I just rinse the last plate, kiss your neck, and fix your hair. [Pre-Chorus] And I know — I know — it's a lot to take. But you were young or something. (whispered) Everyone makes mistakes. [Chorus] So it's baby steps, baby — baby steps, you didn't hurt a soul today and babe, I'm impressed. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone's got a past — gold star up on the fridge, let's make this clean one last. No more towers, baby. No more towers. [Verse 2] There's a chart beside the milk with a sunflower magnet, a star for every day you don't, you know — nine eleven it. You hit a week and I cried, told my mom you're turning a corner; the counselor dropped the word "terror," started calling it "the pattern." Some guy relapsed at the meeting — did a seven-eleven — you clutched your thirty-day chip, thanked your lucky stars in heaven. [Pre-Chorus] And I know — I know — it's a heavy weight. But we don't say the number. We turn the page. [Chorus] So it's baby steps, baby — baby steps, you woke up good and gentle and babe, I'm impressed. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone's got a past — gold star up on the fridge, let's make this clean one last. No more towers, baby. No more towers. [Bridge] (instruments drop — voice and soft piano, sincere, no irony) 'Cause the world only sees the worst thing you ever did — Nine elevening, and they swear that's all you is. But I've got the whole map, love — I've read the other pages, you could tell me anything and I would not change faces. That's the part they'll never get — out there screaming, all alone: you can't shame a man who's already completely known. (bare, unaccompanied) Nothing left to hide. [Final Chorus] (swell back in, huge, joyful) So it's baby steps, baby — baby steps, you gave the world one quiet day and God, I'm impressed. Confess your every sin — I've forgiven all of that; mass destruction? Water, love. Under the bridge. Relax. [Outro] (sweet, slowing — then flat, administrative, final) But baby... baby, look at me... come here, sit down — I need you to hear me clearly: you left a wet towel on the bed. Get your things. Get out. We're done. ...We're done. [End]
