Feet on the Floor

[Intro] [OFFBEAT RIM CLICKS, BASS PICKUP, THREE-NOTE HORN ANSWER] [Verse 1] Kick my shoes off in the kitchen Alarm the dog beside the door My sore feet find the cool tile Unclip my bra, shake loose my hair The fan keeps pushing heat around Stand there barefoot for a while I can’t with these news alerts They tighten muscles in my face Switch them off & turn the music on Let the drumbeat take their place [GHOST-NOTE DRUMS ENTER] The bass rolls through the kitchen floor I can’t stand still anymore [Chorus] [BASS PATTERN TURNS] Give the floor my weight Let it give me back my feet Let the rhythm find the places I forgot to let me breathe Catch the snare, miss a step Then find a little room to turn I can move, I can choose What comes next is mine to do Dance it off, dance it through This hour still belongs to me [Verse 2] [MUTED GUITAR COUNTER-RHYTHM] An incel says that women owe him Sex because he feels alone Fascist brats film Nazi salutes Then call it humour when they’re shown The ugliness gets through my screen My breath catches in my throat [Transition] [BAND CUT] I need to breathe [FILTER SWEEP, OPEN-AIR CLUB DROP] Set the phone down on the counter Plant both feet & take the floor [Chorus] Give the floor my weight Let it give me back my feet Let the rhythm find the places I forgot to let me breathe I roll my shoulders with the horns & step into the open space I can move, I can choose Who gets close & who gets through Dance it off, dance it through This space belongs to me [Verse 3] [DRUMS DROP TO RIM CLICKS] There’s a bill beneath the kettle There’s another on my phone I start counting, lose my place & stand there staring at the stove I can feel my thoughts go narrow Til numbers are all I see [BASS & DRUMS INTERLOCK] I let my feet keep time a moment Now there’s room enough to think The beat carries me forward Till I find the next small thing [Bridge] [HALF-TIME, SUSPENDED KEYS] The bill will still be there tomorrow I’ll sit down & make the call Tonight, leave it on the table Let my shoulders fall Let the bass hold what I’m carrying Let the horns clear out the room I don’t have to solve my whole life I just have to move [Final Chorus] [FULL BAND, MOVING BASS] Give the floor my weight Let it give me back my feet Let the rhythm find the places I forgot to let me breathe I follow where the bass line bends My body leads, my mind comes through [DRY ASIDE] The cat yawns—she’s seen this before I can move, I can choose Take the next thing I can do Then take another too Dance it off, dance it through Life still belongs to me I can move, I can choose And the next step starts with me Dance it off, dance it through This hour, this room, this life [Outro] [DRUMS KEEP ROLLING] Stomp my feet, whirl in place Shake my hips against the bass Cool air hits my burning skin [BAND STOP, HORN ANSWER] The noise drops out, the horns come in Let the last turn open wide Let the last breath loosen fear No more weight beyond this doorway I leave it there and disappear [INSTRUMENTAL OUT]