[Intro - Piano solo, establishing melody, 16 bars] [Verse 1] Can't swim the same river twice My therapist said But the carnival's leaving And I'm trying anyway [Instrumental - 12 bars, strings enter quietly] [Chorus] Paper river in my hands Ink stamp fading fast Memorize the carnival lights Nothing ever lasts [Instrumental interlude - 16 bars, full arrangement developing] [Verse 2] Fortune-teller's fishbowl Full of folded moments She says pick one They all dissolve the same [Pre-chorus - stripped back] Cotton candy Gasoline Everything in between [Instrumental build - 8 bars] [Chorus] Paper river in my hands Ink stamp fading fast Memorize the carnival lights Nothing ever lasts [Bridge - piano and voice only] You can't cup water Can't stop the leaving But you can stand in it While it's moving [Instrumental drop - 4 beats silence] [Build - 12 bars, everything returning] [Final Chorus - full power] Paper river in my hands Ink stamp fading fast I'm memorizing everything Knowing it won't last Paper river (Paper river) Slipping away (Slipping away) [Outro - Instrumental, 24 bars dissolving to single piano note]
