THE SPARK THAT WAS MINE Reno Kruger & Orion — Zero Genre [Verse 1 — Warm, reflective male vocal; clean electric guitar and steady bass] He bought the records, learned every line Played those old songs till he got them right Studied the heroes, watched how they played Thought he could find what they had made He changed his voice, changed his clothes Followed the road where the spotlight goes But every song that he tried to sing Sounded like somebody else's dream [Pre-Chorus — Drums build gently; vocal gains intensity] He thought he was getting closer With every borrowed rhyme But the more he chased their shadows The less he heard his own inside [Chorus — Full band opens up; soulful, melodic delivery] I chased the stars To capture their light Tried to emulate the glow But I lost the fight I found nothing but dark As I traveled through time I almost lost the spark That I thought was mine [Verse 2 — Pull back slightly; bluesy guitar fills between lines] He played the bars, he played the rooms Sang their songs beneath their tunes Somebody said, "You sound just like..." He smiled a little, but it didn't feel right The years rolled on, the dream wore thin He couldn't tell where they ended and he began Till one long night, with nobody around He picked up his guitar and made his own sound [Pre-Chorus — Gradual lift; restrained emotion] No borrowed words, no borrowed glory No perfect image to defend For the first time in a long, long time He didn't have to pretend [Chorus — Stronger vocal, same melody] I chased the stars To capture their light Tried to emulate the glow But I lost the fight I found nothing but dark As I traveled through time I almost lost the spark That I thought was mine [Bridge — Half-time feel; intimate vocal, piano and guitar] And somewhere in the notes That nobody had heard He found a little truth In every broken word He wasn't born to be another He wasn't made to wear their name He had a story of his own And a voice that felt the same [Instrumental Break — Soulful electric guitar solo, melodic and unhurried] [Final Verse — Band returns; confident but unforced] He walked back in and took the stage No borrowed songs, no borrowed face He sang the life he'd come to know And something in that room began to glow They weren't cheering for somebody new They were hearing something real and true And when the last chord faded away He knew he'd finally found his way [Final Chorus — Full band, powerful harmonies, soulful lead vocal] I chased the stars To capture their light Tried to emulate the glow But I lost the fight I found nothing but dark As I traveled through time I almost lost the spark That I thought was mine [Outro — Band strips back to guitar; reflective vocal] I don't need their light I don't need their name I've got my own fire I've got my own flame I chased the stars... Now I shine my own way.
