[ARRANGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE:] [Structure: intro, verse 1, chorus, verse 2, chorus, bridge, final chorus, outro] [Drums: slow shuffle hats, tight snare or rim, minimal fills, one fill into each chorus only, bigger crash only in final chorus] [Guitars: dirty amp, mild fuzz, slide and bends, short slapback only, palm mute choke cuts before hook lines] [Bass: warm drive, mono sub, lock to kick on hook lines, small walk ups into A7 and B7] [Keys: optional dusty organ pad very low, only under choruses and bridge] [LYRICS LOCKED] [Intro: vocal: none, grit:0, doubles: off, adlibs: none, placement: buried 18, V vs B -4.0, edits: loose, breaths: none] [bottle clink, chair scrape] [low guitar moan, amp hum, slow bends] [Verse 1: vocal: gritty sing speak, grit:55, doubles: off, adlibs: sparse, placement: buried 8, V vs B +1.5, edits: loose, breaths: natural] Neon buzzing like a bad thought Sweat on the glass, whiskey too hot Bartender sighs, wipes the same spot Like he knows this night will rot Man in the corner staring through me Cheap cologne, sour beer, grin too greedy I did not come to prove a thing I came for quiet and a damn drink [Chorus: vocal: shout sing, grit:65, doubles: light, adlibs: call and response, placement: buried 6, V vs B +0.5, edits: tight, breaths: controlled] Yeah last call swung first, I held my ground Barstool slid, then we went down I did not want blood, I did not want fame I wanted quiet, now I wear the blame Yeah last call swung first, hear knuckles ring Whole bar froze when the bottles sang I walked in clean, walked out cursed All because last call swung first [Verse 2: vocal: gritty sing speak, grit:60, doubles: off, adlibs: sparse, placement: buried 8, V vs B +1.0, edits: loose, breaths: natural] He ran his mouth about my boots Then ran his mouth about who I choose Words got heavy, room went mute When his shoulder hit mine like a fuse He knocked my glass, beer on my jeans Then smiled like he wanted a scene Music choked, jukebox cried Glass hit tile, somebody lied [Chorus: vocal: shout sing, grit:65, doubles: light, adlibs: call and response, placement: buried 6, V vs B +0.5, edits: tight, breaths: controlled] Yeah last call swung first, I held my ground Barstool slid, then we went down I did not want blood, I did not want fame I wanted quiet, now I wear the blame Yeah last call swung first, hear knuckles ring Whole bar froze when the bottles sang I walked in clean, walked out cursed All because last call swung first [Bridge: vocal: worn clean with rasp, grit:40, doubles: off, adlibs: none, placement: buried 7, V vs B +2.0, edits: medium, breaths: natural] Mama said, boy do not let anger drive Daddy said, sometimes you have to survive I am not proud, but I am not wrong Just another night ran too damn long I feel it shaking in my hands Aint no winners where we stand Just broken pride and barroom lore And another scar I cannot ignore [Final Chorus: vocal: shout sing, grit:75, doubles: on, adlibs: short, placement: buried 5, V vs B 0.0, edits: tight, breaths: controlled] Yeah last call swung first, I took the fall Cops outside, blood on the wall I did not start it, but I got the blame Now I pay in cuffs, same damn game Yeah last call swung first, that is how it goes One bad look, one crossed line, one broken nose I walked in human, walked out cursed All because last call swung first [Outro: vocal: low tired, grit:25, doubles: off, adlibs: none, placement: buried 10, V vs B +1.0, edits: loose, breaths: natural] Neon buzzing like a bad dream Still taste iron, still feel mean Next time I leave before it is worse Before last call swings first
