[Intro - spoken, low, shaky, piano + vinyl crackle] _I didn’t mean to... I swear I didn’t mean to..._ [Verse 1 - upright bass, brushed drums, accordion, slow chanson waltz] Same corner café, same damn rain I walked in soaked, half dead from the pain Of nights in a hospital chair, of silence, of dread Then I saw her notebook... left there instead Pages of poems, my name in the ink My hands started shaking before I could think I read every line like a man gone to theft She dreams of me... God... what’s left? [Pre-Chorus - strings enter, muted trumpet, voice breaking] I told myself "put it down, walk away You’re married, you’re old, you’ve had your day" But then she came in, with the look And I heard myself say... "Amélie, Is this your book?" [Chorus - restrained, orchestra swells, no "yeah-yeah", aching baritone] Oh, mademoiselle, I said your name And set your whole world alight with flame Your eyes went wide like I’d given you air And Mon Dieu, I wanted to drown in there I am falling too... there’s no defence Against your springtime innocence I said your name... and lost the war Mademoiselle... what am I for? [Verse 2 - piano darker, bass walks up, confessional, trembling] I pulled out the chair — what was I doing? Invited the flood I’ve spent years eschewing You talked of school, of classes you take I hid my hands so you wouldn’t see them shake? You asked if I liked jazz on Sunday nights And I... I lied with all of my might Said "there’s a cellar club" just down the street "if you like, next Sunday, we could meet" [Pre-Chorus - bigger, trumpet cries, drums roll then pull back] Then I said "I’ll save you a seat," I heard My own damnation in every word Because I knew I’d be there if it killed me And my heart went boom-boom-boom, guilty and free [Chorus - repeat, add choir "ahh", more despair] Oh, mademoiselle, I said your name And damned us both to this beautiful shame You looked at me like I was a man Not a ghost, not a duty, not some worn-out plan I am falling too... God help me now I’ve broken vows I don’t know how I said your name... and sealed my fate Mademoiselle... it’s far too late [Bridge - breakdown, spoken over cello + piano, raw, ashamed] _I paid for your coffee. I folded your page. I walked out like a coward, back into my cage. To the hospital. To the beeping machine. To the wife who still calls me "love" in her dreams... And I... I am a monster. Because all I see... is you._ [Final Chorus - full orchestra, tragic, voice cracking] Oh, mademoiselle, I said your name And now I have to live with the blame Of wanting Sunday to come too fast Of praying this feeling will not last I am falling too... and I cannot fall I have no right to want you at all I said your name... may God forgive Mademoiselle... teach me how to live [Outro - slow fade] _Next Sunday... I can’t... I must... I..._
