CLEARLY NOT [Intro: low female voice, almost amused; exposed crunchy guitar] “It should be clear.” Well, it’s clearly not. [Verse 1: smoky female alto, clipped conversational rhythm; palm-muted guitar] You say, “Whatever.” So I make the call. Then find out You didn’t mean that at all. I ask what’s wrong. You say, “You know.” If I fucking knew, Would I ask you though? A joke lands wrong And you go quiet. I ask what I said. “Don’t worry about it.” You change the subject. You change your tone. Now I’m running it back On the way home. [Pre-Chorus: low chest voice, roughening; guitar tightens] You’ve had the whole argument Inside your head. I’m losing a fight Over words never said. [Chorus: female lead; deep feral guttural growl on “CLEARLY NOT”; guitar cuts beneath the phrase] It should be clear, BUT IT’S CLEARLY NOT. You say, “You should know.” Well, give me a shot. Tell me what hurt. Tell me what I missed. [Half-time vocal phrasing; instruments pull back; female voice alone, slow and clearly articulated] I can own what I did... If I know what it is. [Brief pause; full groove returns] Don’t say “it’s fine” If you’re keeping a score. Don’t make me guess, Then get mad I’m not sure. We’ve all said “nothing” When we meant a lot. It should be clear, BUT IT’S CLEARLY NOT. [Male chant: low, rough, rhythmic; guitar answers each phrase] What do you mean? What do you want? It should be clear. CLEARLY NOT. [Verse 2: female lead, low and candid; guitar groove pulls back] I’ve pulled that shit. I know it well. Said, “I’m fine,” Made the room feel like hell. Typed what I meant, Then deleted the lot. Sent back “okay” With a loaded full stop. Said, “Do what you want,” With a threat underneath. Waited for someone To drag it from me. I wanted them asking. I wanted them close. Then said, “Leave me alone,” Like they could do both. [Pre-Chorus: female lead; male joins the final words] I’ve had the whole argument Inside my head. Made you pay For the words I never said. [Chorus: deep guttural hook; sparse heavy guitar groove] It should be clear, BUT IT’S CLEARLY NOT. You say, “You should know.” Well, give me a shot. Tell me what hurt. Tell me what I missed. [Half-time vocal phrasing; instruments pull back; female voice alone, slow and clearly articulated] I can own what I did... If I know what it is. [Brief pause; full groove returns] Don’t say “it’s fine” If you’re keeping a score. Don’t make me guess, Then get mad I’m not sure. We’ve all said “nothing” When we meant a lot. It should be clear, BUT IT’S CLEARLY NOT. [Male chant: low and percussive] What do you mean? What do you want? It should be clear. CLEARLY NOT. [Bridge: nearly bare female voice; isolated guitar notes] Sometimes you told me. Sometimes I knew. Sometimes “I didn’t know” Was my excuse. If I wouldn’t listen, That’s mine to own. But I can’t hear words You’ve never spoken. [Build: female lead, increasingly raw; restrained guitar pulse] Say, “I’m pissed.” Say, “Not now.” Say, “I need a minute To work this out.” You don’t need a speech. You don’t need it neat. I’m not asking for perfect. I’m asking you to speak. [Feral release: instruments cut completely; savage guttural female scream, deep, raw and ragged] SAY WHAT YOU FUCKING MEAN! [Male chant: low, rough, percussive] Say it. Say it. [Feral release: exposed female voice; deeper guttural scream] SAY WHAT YOU FUCKING MEAN! [Final Chorus: crunchy guitar slams back in; female lead, low male accents on “CLEARLY NOT”] It should be clear, BUT IT’S CLEARLY NOT. We’ve all said “nothing” When we meant a lot. Tell me what hurt. Tell me what I missed. [Half-time vocal phrasing; instruments pull back; female voice alone, slow and clearly articulated] I can own what I did... If I know what it is. [Brief pause; full groove returns] I’ll say what I mean. You can hold me to that. If I bite my tongue, I don’t get to snap At you for believing The answer you got. It should be clear, BUT IT’S CLEARLY NOT. [Male chant: low, rough; female guttural response] It should be clear. CLEARLY NOT. It should be clear. CLEARLY NOT. [Outro: guitar cuts; low spoken female voice] I’m asking because I don’t know. Tell me.
