[Intro] (0:00 - 0:04) (Complete silence, then Maxwell-style lead vocal drops completely solo) Before you, I never knew the dawn could burn this bright... (0:04) (A sharp, electronic 90s digital rimshot and a deep, subtle sub-bass kick hit hard exactly on the word "Before") (0:05 - 0:15) (Warm electric piano chords [E♭m7] and a steady, syncopated shaker loop smoothly slide in, locking the 63 BPM neo-soul groove into place) Never knew the midnight moon could paint the dark in liquid light... (Clean electric guitar fill sweeps in) Oh, yeah... (Smooth synth pads swell in the background as the sub-bass anchors the chord loop: E♭m7 - Fm7 - B♭m7) Ooh, ooh, mmm... [Verse 1] (Chords: E♭m7 - Fm7 - B♭m7) (Muted, rhythmic guitar plucking locks with the steady kick and crisp snare) I’ve walked through fields of gold and drank the finest vintage wine I’ve seen the seven wonders, crossed the old equator line But all the diamond stars above, and all the oceans wide Are nothing but a shadow to the universe inside I’ve flown first class to Paris just to watch the city glow Had empires at my fingertips with nothing left to show No palace in the history of kings could ever compete With the simple, sacred gravity of sitting at your feet. [Chorus] (Chords: E♭m7 - Fm7 - B♭m7) (Lush, stacked background vocal layers swell, adding massive warmth) As sure as the rivers run straight to the sea As sure as the gravity grounds you and me I am so fortunate, blessed by the design To hold a love so heavy and divine Yeah, you changed the atmosphere, rearranged my world So thankful just to breath your air, my girl. [Verse 2] (Chords: E♭m7 - Fm7 - B♭m7) (Groove continues; Prince-inspired wordless falsetto runs accent the spaces) (Ooh-la-la-la...) I used to count the hours just to watch the day go by Now every ordinary breath feels like a painted sky A simple cup of coffee is a feast when you are near The city traffic plays a song I finally can hear I’ve seen the highest mountains, touched the edges of the space But I never knew what heaven was until I saw your face This is a brand new language, a totally different shore A kind of deep devotion I have never felt before. [Chorus] (Chords: E♭m7 - Fm7 - B♭m7) (Lead vocal pushes into a passionate, gritty soul delivery) As sure as the rivers run straight to the sea As sure as the gravity grounds you and me I am so fortunate, blessed by the design To hold a love so heavy and divine Yeah, you changed the atmosphere, rearranged my world So thankful just to breath your air, my girl. [Bridge] (The rhythm section pulls back slightly, focusing heavily on the sub-bass and electric piano) (The chord progression shifts to the passing turnaround sequence: E♭m7 - Fm7 - B♭m7 - Am7 - A♭m7 - E♭m7 - D♭9) (Lyrics shift from broad appreciation to private, intense, exclusive physical intimacy) (E♭m7) Step inside the shadow, (Fm7) leave the world outside the door (B♭m7) I don't want no interludes, (Am7) just give me something more (A♭m7) I am calling to your body, let the (E♭m7) curtains touch the floor (D♭9) Pulling you so close to me, till we can't tell who is who... (Lead vocal climbs into an soaring, wordless Prince-style falsetto run over the D♭9 chord) (Oh-oh-aaaaah!) [Guitar Solo / Groove Outro] (Chords return to the main loop: E♭m7 - Fm7 - B♭m7) (The crisp digital snare and syncopated shaker drive the final 63 BPM pocket) (Clean electric guitar plays an emotive, soulful solo intertwined with falsetto ad-libs) So fortunate... (so fortunate, baby) Every single day is new...(Lush background vocals echo: "Changed my world...") Just as sure as the sky is blue, yeah. (Track slowly fades out on a sustained, warm electric piano B♭m7 chord and a final soft shaker hit)
