[Opening Guitar – Signature Jimmy V guitar riff. Rain-soaked, swaggering, instantly recognizable. Palm-muted pulse blooms into ringing open chords with a haunting melodic lead. Subtle industrial atmosphere beneath the guitars as the drums slowly build.] [Spoken Intro – Low, direct, calm confidence. Young street-punk voice. Quiet defiance. Like he's telling you a truth, not asking for sympathy.] "Everybody sees the fighter... ...Nobody sees the wanderer." [Verse 1 – Tight groove. Restrained band. Confident vocal. Guitars breathe with space between phrases.] March eighth turned eighteen [slightly breathy delivery] Sixteen was a bad dream Burning this black candle at both ends Jimmy's fire burns low (Burns low!) Been raining for days Got one battle jacket and a pack of smokes [Music washes away with line] Everything else washed away No bag in my pockets No phone No place to call home [Verse 2 – Driving rhythm. Melodic bass pushes forward. Signature guitar motif answers the vocal with expressive melodic licks.] The ash glow From my cheap smokes Lights my way Got nothin' new to say Drummer Boys on the corner Tattered jackets, caps pulled low Drumsticks keeping time [drum tom fill] They smiled... And my heart dropped I kept chasing morning They disappeared into the night [Build – Rising tension. Rolling toms. Signature guitar motif returns beneath the melodic, ballad-like emotional vocal.] Rain keeps falling forever Nobody stops to listen So I keep my head down And I walk alone I walk alone... [Massive tom fill. Signature Jimmy V riff explodes.] [Chorus – Full band. Huge open chords. Anthemic lead vocal. Gang responses. Wide guitars. Emotional, over the top but never emo delivery] EIGHTEEN AND DESPERIT! (Eighteen and desperit!) Burning the black candle at both ends! Jimmy V's on the run! (On the run!) Heart like a midnight gun! (On the run!) [screams] (midnight gun!) (Eighteen and desperit!) (Eighteen and desperit!) [Verse 3 – Pull the band back. Cinematic. Industrial atmosphere. Guitar carries the emotion with restrained melodic phrases.] Red neon calling Rusted gate with iron roses "You got a light?" Not everyone found the secret Nobody talked about it [Bridge – Half-time groove. Heavy toms. Vocal opens up with conviction. Lead guitar slowly rises behind the vocal.] The red neon light calls me inside Club Oblivion calls me Hard industrial synths shake the floor I push through the iron door [Melodic soaring lead guitar built around the signature Jimmy V riff.] [Final Chorus – Biggest performance. Full conviction. Stronger gang responses. Wide open guitars. Signature riff returns for the ending.] EIGHTEEN AND DESPERIT! (Eighteen and desperit!) Burning the black candle at both ends! Jimmy V's on the run! (On the run!) Heart like a midnight gun! (On the run!) [screams] (midnight gun!) (Eighteen and desperit!) (Eighteen and desperit!)
