[Intro: Playful acoustic piano staccato, soft upright bass, clicking percussion like a typewriter] [Verse 1: Quirky vocal delivery, dry piano accompaniment] I found a paperclip inside my teacup today It was bent into the shape of a tiny paper swan I asked the waitress if it meant good luck She just wiped the table and said, "Honey, move along." [piano key-clicking accent] [Verse 2: Dynamic piano rhythm, expressive singing] So I put the little swan inside my coat pocket Beside a button that lost its coat three years ago They are forming a small committee in the dark Discussing where the lost things ought to go. [Chorus: Catchy, eccentric melody, bouncy upright bass and woodblock] La-da-da, bad-a-dum, who keeps the records? La-da-da, bad-a-dum, where do they reside? Are they sitting in a warehouse in Queens? Or just hiding inside, inside, inside? [Instrumental break] [Long melody piano solo] [Verse 3: Intimate, softer piano, storytelling tone] There is a clock on Broadway that runs backwards Only two minutes every single Tuesday night I stand on the curb and I hold my breath Waiting for the sky to un-turn its light. [soft vocal hiccup] [Bridge: Piano tempo slows down, then speeds up playfully, rhythmic vocal vocalizations] Tutu-ru, pap-pap, bad-a-da! First it was a whisper, then it was a spark! [gasp sound] If you lose a mitten, does it miss your hand? Does it wander through the snow in the park? [Chorus: Full eccentric energy, bright piano and energetic brush snare] (2x) La-da-da, bad-a-dum, who keeps the records? La-da-da, bad-a-dum, where do they reside? Are they sitting in a warehouse in Queens? Or just hiding inside, inside, inside? [Outro: Minimalist piano solo, fading brush percussion, whimsical vocal humming] Just a paperclip swan... And a coat with no buttons... [gentle hum] Mmm-mmm-mmm. [Final single quiet piano chord] [End]
