*Love Is The Elixir*
[LOVE IS THE ELIXIR] [Intro — 4 bars only; bold golden horns state Elixir motif, nylon guitar, piano] [Billy Joe — intimate] Love is the elixir... [Horns — powerful short answer] [Verse 1 — velvet-low, emotional] I searched the world for answers In words that promised truth I wore a thousand questions Till every road found you I asked the night for meaning I asked the years what's true But every road kept turning Back to the heart of you You were there in the morning Before the daylight knew Like water to a thirsty heart I came alive in you [Pre-Chorus — rising] Gold can lose its glitter Kingdoms turn to sand But when your hand finds my hand I finally understand [Chorus — powerful horns, controlled vocal] Love is the elixir The thesis and the flame The one enduring answer Every heart can name Love is the water Love is the wine Love is the one thing Time cannot unwind [Horns — SHORT Elixir signature] [Verse 2 — warmer, building] We danced beneath the evening While distant church bells rang Your eyes caught all the starlight The whole night seemed to change The old guitar was talking The trumpets filled the air And every restless question Lost its reason standing there I wore the miles behind me Like dust upon my soul Then your love came through me And somehow made me whole [Pre-Chorus 2 — strings and horns rising] I've held onto ambition I've tasted foolish pride But nothing ever felt like this With you here by my side [Chorus 2 — bigger] Love is the elixir The thesis and the flame The one enduring answer Every heart can name Love is the water Love is the wine Love is the one thing Time cannot unwind [Instrumental — 8 bars MAX; powerful trumpet/flugelhorn Elixir motif, guitar and strings answer; NO extended solo] [Bridge — half-time, emotional pullback] If wisdom has a mountain Love must be the climb If truth is worth discovering Then give it all your time And when we've spent our summers And silver finds our hair Ask me what was worth it— [Full silence] [Billy Joe — nearly whispered] You were there. [Male — intimate] And you were there. [One soft horn answer] [Billy Joe — controlled emotional rise] I don't need forever To tell me what is true Forever started somewhere The day that I found you [GRAND FINAL CHORUS — immediate full arena release; Billy Joe soaring, NEVER screaming] Love is the elixir! [HORNS — huge short signature] The thesis and the flame The one enduring answer Every heart can name Love is the water Love is the wine Love is the one thing Time cannot unwind [Layered harmony] Love carries on! [Billy Joe] When everything we're holding Has changed or traveled on— [Together] Love is the harbor Love is the sea Love is what remains of you Love is what remains of me [FINAL OUTRO — NO REPEAT, NO NEW VERSE; 8 bars MAX] [Billy Joe — orchestra pulls back] If the whole world loses reason If the stars forget to shine I'll still know one thing forever— [Male] Your heart was mine. [Billy Joe] And mine was yours. [One final rising horn phrase] [Billy Joe — sustained, controlled] Time... cannot... unwind. [HARD COMPOSED END — full brass/orchestra final chord; trumpet Elixir motif ONCE; single guitar harmonic; STOP. NO FADE, NO REPEAT, NO EXTENDED OUTRO.][“Target 4–5 minutes. No section repeats beyond written lyrics. Instrumental break 8 bars maximum. Outro 8 bars maximum. Hard composed ending immediately after final Elixir motif. No vamp, reprise, fade, or extended instrumental.”]
