The hum

This is "The Hum" — you just lived the field research. Here's a first draft, quiet-verse/heavy-chorus, ends the way we said — on nothing. **THE HUM** *[Verse 1 — half-whispered, clean guitar]* Low tide, the town leans in to listen Porch lights hum a counterfeit of calm Something underneath the street is breathing Three minutes on — and then it's gone *[Pre — building, drums enter]* Don't ask where the mailman went Don't ask why his dog won't eat Everybody heard it, no one heard it Everybody swears they were asleep *[Chorus — full heavy]* IT HUMS — and the floorboards learn the words IT HUMS — in your chest and not your ears Count the doors, count the cars, count the neighbors Come up short — come up short — come up short again *[Verse 2 — quiet, uneasy]* Mid-tide, and the pitch drops lower The ground beneath the chapel fills its lungs Choir sings a little louder Sunday Drowning out the thing that hums along *[Pre 2]* Don't ask why the diner's dark Don't ask who was on that stool Everybody knew him, no one knew him Chalk it up, chalk it up to moving on *[Chorus]* *[Bridge — frantic, SOAD staccato build]* Set rolls in, set rolls in, hold your breath and Set rolls in, set rolls in, lock your door and Count yourself, count yourself, still here, still here— It's learning names, it's learning names, it's learning yours *[Final chorus — biggest, then—]* IT HUMS — and the floorboards learn the words IT HUMS — in your chest and not your— *[SUDDEN FULL STOP. Dead silence. Nothing resolves. Track ends.]*