[Verse 1] The woman with the marble kitchen said, “You’re the best I’ve ever seen.” She handed me an envelope thicker than it needed to be. I thanked her like a normal person. I put it safely in my coat. Then, in the parking lot, I held it up like evidence of something I had broke. [Pre-Chorus] I could hear the old drums starting. I could feel the floor give way. A little voice said, “Leave it there. You can be broke by Saturday.” [Chorus] The check cleared. The check cleared. I watched the number turn green. No wolves, no leaks, no desperate call— just money sitting there, obscene. The check cleared. The check cleared. I laughed until I nearly choked. I had enough to solve a problem. [pause] So I started looking for a worse one. [Verse 2] I found three things wrong with the van. I found a bill I could ignore. I found a friend who needed moving and a door without a proper door. I made a list of urgent errands. I sharpened up the old routine. Then I looked down at the envelope and hated how relieved I’d been. [Pre-Chorus] The money felt like somebody had walked into my scene and taken all the ropes away before I’d finished climbing. [Chorus] The check cleared. The check cleared. I watched the number turn green. No wolves, no leaks, no desperate call— just money sitting there, obscene. The check cleared. The check cleared. I felt the old electricity. I could spend it all on getting free— or spend it all becoming me. [Bridge] The van can wait. The friend can wait. The door can stay half-hung. The money’s mine. The money’s mine. [beat] Why does that sound like someone’s tongue? I want the panic. I want the fall. I want to be the one who fixes it all. But I want the house. I want the room. I want to walk in and have nothing to do. [Final Chorus] The check cleared. The check cleared. It didn’t vanish in the night. I didn’t turn it into rescue. I didn’t turn it into fright. The check cleared. The check cleared. My hands are shaking, but I’m here. The quest is calling from the hallway— [quietly] I can hear it. [beat] I don’t have to answer. [Outro] I put the envelope inside the drawer. Then I locked the drawer. Then I stood there listening— for the sound of something going wrong.
