[Intro — close voice, dry bass pulse] “Hold it steady.” Yeah. I’ve had practice. [Verse 1 — low, rhythmic, slight bite] Six screws digging in my palm. I count them twice and pass them on. The ladder shivers. I shift my feet. You tell me what the red line means. You watch the branch above the roof. I watch the rung beneath your boot. You hear my silence taking sides. I’m trying to keep you upright. [Pre-Chorus — instruments pull back] My calm is not a forecast. My fear is not your proof. [Chorus — heavy groove, sharp call and response] SO I GOT A LITTLE TRAUMA— SO WHAT? I CAN HOLD THE LADDER STEADY WITH A KNOT IN MY GUT. SO I GOT A LITTLE TRAUMA— SO WHAT? MY HANDS ARE FUCKING SHAKING. I STILL SHOWED UP. [Post-Chorus — short gang response over the riff] SO WHAT? STILL SHOWED UP. [Verse 2 — the smile leaves the voice] I laughed at you beside the car. I made that little face you hate. Then moved my mother’s photographs Above the old brown watermark. I called you dramatic. Then slept under your work. [Band drops out] That laugh was mine. I’m sorry. [Instrumental — two bars, bass brings the groove back] [Chorus — full band, less swagger, more force] SO I GOT A LITTLE TRAUMA— SO WHAT? I CAN HOLD THE LADDER STEADY WITH A KNOT IN MY GUT. SO I GOT A LITTLE TRAUMA— SO WHAT? MY HANDS ARE FUCKING SHAKING. I STILL SHOWED UP. [Bridge — close, plain, almost spoken] “You can leave the radio on.” I needed it on too. I made it sound like kindness So I wouldn’t have to ask. I kept the coffee level. The rest of me was not. [Breakdown — four heavy stops] I SAID “A LITTLE.” I SAID “SO WHAT.” I DIDN’T SAY IT FUCKING STOPPED. [Instrumental — bass alone, then the riff returns] [Final Chorus — huge opening, backing voices gradually fall away] SO I GOT A LITTLE TRAUMA— SO WHAT? I CAN HOLD THE LADDER STEADY WITH A KNOT IN MY GUT. SO I GOT A LITTLE TRAUMA— [Band cuts; no answering voices] So what? My hands are fucking shaking. I still showed up. [Outro — ordinary voice, quiet room] You ask if I want another. “No. Take this one.” I let go. My hand keeps shaking.
