[INTRO — lonely fingerpicked acoustic guitar, warm vinyl crackle, distant room ambience, soft humming entering slowly] [STACKED HUMMING — 3-part harmony, breathy and distant] (Mmmmmm…) (Ooooh…) (Mmm-mmm…) (So long…) [Acoustic guitar continues alone for 2 bars] [VERSE 1 — intimate, tired lead vocal; almost conversational] You were supposed to be my rock Instead you’re just sand The one who should’ve walked with me Not the one I can’t stand Why don’t you ever laugh Why do you always cry No reason to dance But excuses to die In a life that’s so short Your face shouldn’t be so long So my hands on the door This may be so long [PRE-CHORUS BREAK — instruments drop away completely] [LEAD VOCAL, almost whispered] So long… [STACKED VOICES — a cappella, finger snaps only] (So lo-o-o-ong…) (Bye… bye…) (Mmmmmm…) [One deep bass-guitar note brings the music back] [CHORUS — fuller acoustic R&B groove, bass guitar, soft lo-fi drums, layered harmonies] So long bye bye What a run we had I tried, I tried But it all turns bad So long bye bye Pour a drink, not tears Let the time go by Let’s not waste these years [POST-CHORUS — lead stops; stacked voices carry melody] [NO DRUMS — finger snaps, bass guitar pulse, layered vocals] (So long…) (So long, bye-bye…) (I tried…) (I tried…) [HIGH HARMONY] Let it go-o-o… [LOW HARMONY] Let it go… [Acoustic guitar turnaround] [VERSE 2 — drums return lightly; bass guitar becomes more melodic] You can’t say I never tried I changed so much for you Took it on the chin Straightened up for you Bought you everything Even beat down your ex Took you everywhere But somehow now your vexed I won’t do this anymore My mental health’s in decline So no more, no way Guess it’s really goodbye [PAUSE — complete silence] [DEEP STACKED VOICES, a cappella] (Really goodbye…) [HIGH FEMALE/ANDROGYNOUS HARMONY] (Goodbyyyyyye…) [Finger snaps enter slowly] [BRIDGE — soulful call-and-response, minimal new lyric content] [LEAD] Maybe loving you Was learning when to leave [STACKED VOICES] (When to leave…) [LEAD] Maybe holding on Ain’t always what we need [STACKED VOICES] (Let it go…) (Let it breathe…) [LEAD — nearly spoken] Some goodbyes hurt… [LOW HARMONY] (Hurt…) [LEAD] But staying hurts more [ALL VOICES — swelling harmony] So I’m walking… Walking… Walking out the door… [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK — 8 bars] [Emotional acoustic/electric guitar solo — soulful bends, lots of space, no rock distortion] [Cello answers the guitar phrases] [Bass guitar slides underneath] [Lo-fi drums disappear halfway through solo] [Final 4 bars become guitar + cello + distant humming only] (Mmmmmm…) (So long…) (Ooooh…) [BEAT RETURNS — muted kick, rim/snare, finger snaps] [FINAL CHORUS — strongest emotional vocal, thick stacked harmonies answering every phrase] So long bye bye (So long… bye-bye…) What a run we had (What a run we had…) I tried, I tried (I tried… I tried…) But it all turns bad (All turns bad…) So long bye bye (So lo-o-o-ong…) Pour a drink, not tears (Not tears…) Let the time go by (Let it go…) Let’s not waste these years (Don’t waste these years…) [EXTENDED VOCAL BREAK — MUSIC STOPS COMPLETELY] [Finger snaps only] [LEAD] So long… [STACKED VOICES] (So long…) [LEAD] Bye bye… [STACKED VOICES — expanding 4-part harmony] (Bye…) (Bye…) (Byyyyyye…) [LOW BASS VOICE] I tried… [MIDDLE VOICES] (I tried…) [HIGH HARMONY] (I tri-i-i-ied…) [Silence for one beat] [OUTRO — acoustic guitar returns alone] [Soft lead] So long… [Humming choir enters behind guitar] (Mmmmmm…) (Ooooh…) (So long, bye-bye…) [Cello plays final descending melody] [Fingerpicked guitar repeats opening motif] [STACKED VOICES gradually becoming distant] (So long…) (So long…) (Bye-bye…) [LONG FADE OUT — gradually remove bass, cello, voices and guitar until only vinyl crackle remains]
