🟧Sunday Aeroplane - (1979) Distant Hymnbook - Someone Underneath [v1bS001]

[Intro: (soft Wurlitzer pattern with light percussion and distant pads setting a questioning mood)]

[Instrumental: (full band slips into the mid tempo groove, sax answering the keyboard hook)]

[Verse 1: (hushed vocal over lighter rhythm section)]
when i was small, the world felt open and kind.
every question was a doorway in my mind.
people smiled and said, this is all you need to see.
and something wordless watched it all from inside me.

[Verse 2: (still gentle, drums ticking softly beneath the keys)]
they gave me names, they told me which ones were mine.
said be polite, be careful, learn to walk in line.
they shaped my voice till it repeated what they knew.
and that quiet watcher kept on asking what is true.

[Chorus 1: (chorus lifts with harmonies and sax fills)]
someone underneath all the praise and the blame.
someone underneath every borrowed little name.
i can feel that presence breathing when i breathe.
help me know who i am, i want to touch someone underneath.

[Verse 3: (band settles into a tighter groove, vocal a little more insistent)]
years roll by, and i learn how to play my part.
i sign my forms, i answer with a steady heart.
i say the lines that keep the surface running smooth.
yet there is a witness no certificate can prove.

[Verse 4: (keys and bass grow richer, small backing oohs appear)]
friends come and go, and they describe what they see.
kind words and harsh words trying to pin down me.
i nod along, but in the gaps between their claims.
i feel a simple softness standing clear of all their frames.

[Chorus 2: (drums and synths grow brighter, backing vocals widen)]
there is a listener behind the stories i tell.
there is a listener behind every secret i shelve.
in the middle of confusion, when i grieve.
i lean into that stillness, that same someone underneath.

[Bridge: (music thins out, toms and piano circling, vocal close and exposed)]
i got so tired of chasing one more perfect role.
tried on belief after belief to cover up the hole.
anger rose up when all the promises fell through.
i almost let that bitterness define what i called true.

[Bridge: (cont, bass and drums grow, subtle synth swells, vocal more intense)]
then in the silence after everything broke down.
no crowd to impress, no bright approving sound.
i heard a gentle presence in the rawness of my chest.
not saying you were wrong, just saying now you rest.

[Bridge: (climax, full band surges, sax climbs, vocals near the top of the range)]
and it did not promise safety or a tidy plan.
only this wild clear love for simply being here.
in the middle of the sorrow and the JOY and GRIEF.
there was someone shining through, and that someone was RELIEF.

[Verse 5: (band drops back, vocal calmer but brighter)]
now when the world calls me clever or lost.
i hear the praise and the judgment, count the cost.
then i come back to the breathing underneath my skin.
and i remember i was never just the places i have been.

[Verse 6: (small organ swells and backing oohs, tone gently grateful)]
i still forget, i still get tangled in the show.
habits pull hard, old fears do not let go.
yet there is a kindness that keeps opening my eyes.
to a steady quiet joy that never really dies.

[Chorus 3: (biggest chorus so far, strong harmonies and sax responses)]
someone underneath all the noise and the schemes.
someone underneath all the half finished dreams.
i can let the world be crooked and still believe.
that a deeper heart awake in me can learn to love and leave.

[Instrumental: (saxophone and keys take a long soaring break over the full groove)]

[Chorus 4: (final refrain, vocals riding high then easing into softness)]
someone underneath, and now i know you are real.
holding every loss and gain in the same wide feel.
i open both my hands and let the labels fall beneath.
and with a wiser, softer LOVE i walk with someone underneath.

[Outro: (band gradually strips away, leaving only Wurlitzer and light percussion fading into silence)]

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[Intro: (soft Wurlitzer pattern with light percussion and distant pads setting a questioning mood)] [Instrumental: (full band slips into the mid tempo groove, sax answering the keyboard hook)] [Verse 1: (hushed vocal over lighter rhythm section)] when i was small, the world felt open and kind. every question was a doorway in my mind. people smiled and said, this is all you need to see. and something wordless watched it all from inside me. [Verse 2: (still gentle, drums ticking softly beneath the keys)] they gave me names, they told me which ones were mine. said be polite, be careful, learn to walk in line. they shaped my voice till it repeated what they knew. and that quiet watcher kept on asking what is true. [Chorus 1: (chorus lifts with harmonies and sax fills)] someone underneath all the praise and the blame. someone underneath every borrowed little name. i can feel that presence breathing when i breathe. help me know who i am, i want to touch someone underneath. [Verse 3: (band settles into a tighter groove, vocal a little more insistent)] years roll by, and i learn how to play my part. i sign my forms, i answer with a steady heart. i say the lines that keep the surface running smooth. yet there is a witness no certificate can prove. [Verse 4: (keys and bass grow richer, small backing oohs appear)] friends come and go, and they describe what they see. kind words and harsh words trying to pin down me. i nod along, but in the gaps between their claims. i feel a simple softness standing clear of all their frames. [Chorus 2: (drums and synths grow brighter, backing vocals widen)] there is a listener behind the stories i tell. there is a listener behind every secret i shelve. in the middle of confusion, when i grieve. i lean into that stillness, that same someone underneath. [Bridge: (music thins out, toms and piano circling, vocal close and exposed)] i got so tired of chasing one more perfect role. tried on belief after belief to cover up the hole. anger rose up when all the promises fell through. i almost let that bitterness define what i called true. [Bridge: (cont, bass and drums grow, subtle synth swells, vocal more intense)] then in the silence after everything broke down. no crowd to impress, no bright approving sound. i heard a gentle presence in the rawness of my chest. not saying you were wrong, just saying now you rest. [Bridge: (climax, full band surges, sax climbs, vocals near the top of the range)] and it did not promise safety or a tidy plan. only this wild clear love for simply being here. in the middle of the sorrow and the JOY and GRIEF. there was someone shining through, and that someone was RELIEF. [Verse 5: (band drops back, vocal calmer but brighter)] now when the world calls me clever or lost. i hear the praise and the judgment, count the cost. then i come back to the breathing underneath my skin. and i remember i was never just the places i have been. [Verse 6: (small organ swells and backing oohs, tone gently grateful)] i still forget, i still get tangled in the show. habits pull hard, old fears do not let go. yet there is a kindness that keeps opening my eyes. to a steady quiet joy that never really dies. [Chorus 3: (biggest chorus so far, strong harmonies and sax responses)] someone underneath all the noise and the schemes. someone underneath all the half finished dreams. i can let the world be crooked and still believe. that a deeper heart awake in me can learn to love and leave. [Instrumental: (saxophone and keys take a long soaring break over the full groove)] [Chorus 4: (final refrain, vocals riding high then easing into softness)] someone underneath, and now i know you are real. holding every loss and gain in the same wide feel. i open both my hands and let the labels fall beneath. and with a wiser, softer LOVE i walk with someone underneath. [Outro: (band gradually strips away, leaving only Wurlitzer and light percussion fading into silence)]

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