If You’re Thinking About Doing That… Wait

1950s country, musical theater, Americana

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# If You’re Thinking About Doing That… Wait

*(Johnny Cash train-beat meets a Broadway stage company)*

[OVERTURE — Ensemble, hushed]
Hush the neon, hold the gate,
If you’re thinking about doing that… wait.

[VERSE 1 — The Narrator]
I walked a long black road with a question in my hand,
A doctor’s door at sundown and a tremor in the band.
The freight train in my ribcage kept tapping out my fate:
“If you’re thinking about doing that… wait.”
I know the urge to change the frame when you can’t stand the frame you’ve got,
To sand the edges, swap the parts, to cool a furnace that runs hot.
But every choice is iron that the anvil time will set—
So count your heartbeats with your friends, and don’t you place that bet… yet.

[CHORUS — Company, claps on 2 & 4]
Wait—count the days, count the nights, let the morning arbitrate;
Wait—call a friend, call a mind, call a doctor, calibrate.
You are more than any story carved in haste or painted slate—
If you’re thinking about doing that… wait.

[VERSE 2 — Narrator + Trio]
Nullo? I don’t know about that—(Trio: *don’t know, don’t know*)—
I’m singing ‘bout the shatter and the silence after that.
We warp reality by reading between the lines,
Like a son who only speaks in signs.
Anything else to add to the list as we add a measure to a mind?
Only thing we’re missing is what made us whole in time.
If there’s something else we’re missing—maybe don’t decide it quick;
Some mornings I feel awful… by night I’m steady, slick.

[REFRAIN — Fiddle/Harmonica Vamp]
Hold the line, hold the light, hold the hand that knows your name;
Hold the truth that bodies change—but worth is not a game.

[BRIDGE — Spoken over train beat, then sung]
**Spoken (Narrator):**
“I know what it’s like to fancy being another type,
To try to sing in another key ‘til the strings get tight.
But there’s a difference ‘tween relief and doing damage out of spite—
So breathe. Take counsel. Sleep one more night.”

**Sung (Ensemble answer):**
Sleep one more night, let the dawn decide,
Let the steady voice inside you ride—
No shame in pausing at the gate,
If you’re thinking about doing that… wait.

[VERSE 3 — Narrator]
I can try to sing like a girl—these days we all use tune,
Silver wires on every note beneath a copper moon.
But a melody’s an oath you make to what you will become,
So swear it slow and swear it true before the hammer drum.
Names and labels, flags and fads—they rise and fall like dust;
Your soul’s not up for barter, and your worth is not a must.
If love is patient, love is kind, let love be in this choice—
And let your future, not your fear, be guiding you a voice.

[CHORUS — Bigger, with gang vocals]
Wait—count the days, count the nights, let the morning arbitrate;
Wait—call a friend, call a mind, call a doctor, calibrate.
You are more than any story carved in haste or painted slate—
If you’re thinking about doing that… wait.

[VERSE 4 — Narrator, softer]
Nullosexual—some might say—(Ensemble: *some might say*)—
Searching for a compass on a storm-lit day.
In their mind they’re chasing heart, in their hands they hold a map;
May they find a road with mercy and no need to lay a trap.
And me, I keep a pocket watch that ticks like boots on stage,
I count to ten, I count again, I underline the page:
Only thing I know for sure when the choices feel like fate—
It’s holy work to pause, my friend… and wait.

[FINAL CHORUS — Broadway button]
Wait—count the days, count the nights, let the morning arbitrate;
Wait—call a friend, call a mind, call a doctor, calibrate.
You are loved beyond the thunder, beyond rumor, rule, or gate—
If you’re thinking about doing that…
If you’re standing at the door like that…
If your shadow says “decide” like that…
**Company (forte):** **WAIT!**

[BUTTON — Fade on train beat]
Hush the neon, hold the gate…
If you’re thinking about doing that—wait.

-------
Chord Chart (by section)
Overture (Ensemble, hush)

| E | E | A | E |
| B7 | B7 | E | (E) |

Verse (Narrator) — each verse uses this 8-bar loop

| E | E | A | E |
| B7 | A | E | B7 |

Tip: On repeats, swap bar 6 to F#7 for a little Broadway tension:
| B7 | F#7 | E | B7 |

Chorus (Company, big)

| A | E | B7 | E |
| A | E | B7 | B7 |
| A | E | B7 | E |
| A | E | B7 | E (hold) |

Refrain (Fiddle/Harp vamp)

| E | E | A | E |
| B7 | A | E | E |

Bridge (Spoken → Sung, widen harmony)

| C#m | A | E | B7 |
| C#m | A | E | B7 |
| F#m | A | E | B7 |
| F#m | A | B7 | (NC) stop |

Optional “Broadway lift”: after the (NC) stop, modulate +1 (to F#) for the last chorus. If you stay in E, skip the next block.

Final Chorus — Modulated to F# (optional big button)

| B | F# | C#7 | F# |
| B | F# | C#7 | C#7 |
| B | F# | C#7 | F# |
| B | F# | C#7 | F# (button) |

Outro (train beat fade or hard stop)

| E | A | E | B7 | → E (ring)
(or in modulated key: F# → B → F# → C#7 → F#)

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# If You’re Thinking About Doing That… Wait *(Johnny Cash train-beat meets a Broadway stage company)* [OVERTURE — Ensemble, hushed] Hush the neon, hold the gate, If you’re thinking about doing that… wait. [VERSE 1 — The Narrator] I walked a long black road with a question in my hand, A doctor’s door at sundown and a tremor in the band. The freight train in my ribcage kept tapping out my fate: “If you’re thinking about doing that… wait.” I know the urge to change the frame when you can’t stand the frame you’ve got, To sand the edges, swap the parts, to cool a furnace that runs hot. But every choice is iron that the anvil time will set— So count your heartbeats with your friends, and don’t you place that bet… yet. [CHORUS — Company, claps on 2 & 4] Wait—count the days, count the nights, let the morning arbitrate; Wait—call a friend, call a mind, call a doctor, calibrate. You are more than any story carved in haste or painted slate— If you’re thinking about doing that… wait. [VERSE 2 — Narrator + Trio] Nullo? I don’t know about that—(Trio: *don’t know, don’t know*)— I’m singing ‘bout the shatter and the silence after that. We warp reality by reading between the lines, Like a son who only speaks in signs. Anything else to add to the list as we add a measure to a mind? Only thing we’re missing is what made us whole in time. If there’s something else we’re missing—maybe don’t decide it quick; Some mornings I feel awful… by night I’m steady, slick. [REFRAIN — Fiddle/Harmonica Vamp] Hold the line, hold the light, hold the hand that knows your name; Hold the truth that bodies change—but worth is not a game. [BRIDGE — Spoken over train beat, then sung] **Spoken (Narrator):** “I know what it’s like to fancy being another type, To try to sing in another key ‘til the strings get tight. But there’s a difference ‘tween relief and doing damage out of spite— So breathe. Take counsel. Sleep one more night.” **Sung (Ensemble answer):** Sleep one more night, let the dawn decide, Let the steady voice inside you ride— No shame in pausing at the gate, If you’re thinking about doing that… wait. [VERSE 3 — Narrator] I can try to sing like a girl—these days we all use tune, Silver wires on every note beneath a copper moon. But a melody’s an oath you make to what you will become, So swear it slow and swear it true before the hammer drum. Names and labels, flags and fads—they rise and fall like dust; Your soul’s not up for barter, and your worth is not a must. If love is patient, love is kind, let love be in this choice— And let your future, not your fear, be guiding you a voice. [CHORUS — Bigger, with gang vocals] Wait—count the days, count the nights, let the morning arbitrate; Wait—call a friend, call a mind, call a doctor, calibrate. You are more than any story carved in haste or painted slate— If you’re thinking about doing that… wait. [VERSE 4 — Narrator, softer] Nullosexual—some might say—(Ensemble: *some might say*)— Searching for a compass on a storm-lit day. In their mind they’re chasing heart, in their hands they hold a map; May they find a road with mercy and no need to lay a trap. And me, I keep a pocket watch that ticks like boots on stage, I count to ten, I count again, I underline the page: Only thing I know for sure when the choices feel like fate— It’s holy work to pause, my friend… and wait. [FINAL CHORUS — Broadway button] Wait—count the days, count the nights, let the morning arbitrate; Wait—call a friend, call a mind, call a doctor, calibrate. You are loved beyond the thunder, beyond rumor, rule, or gate— If you’re thinking about doing that… If you’re standing at the door like that… If your shadow says “decide” like that… **Company (forte):** **WAIT!** [BUTTON — Fade on train beat] Hush the neon, hold the gate… If you’re thinking about doing that—wait. ------- Chord Chart (by section) Overture (Ensemble, hush) | E | E | A | E | | B7 | B7 | E | (E) | Verse (Narrator) — each verse uses this 8-bar loop | E | E | A | E | | B7 | A | E | B7 | Tip: On repeats, swap bar 6 to F#7 for a little Broadway tension: | B7 | F#7 | E | B7 | Chorus (Company, big) | A | E | B7 | E | | A | E | B7 | B7 | | A | E | B7 | E | | A | E | B7 | E (hold) | Refrain (Fiddle/Harp vamp) | E | E | A | E | | B7 | A | E | E | Bridge (Spoken → Sung, widen harmony) | C#m | A | E | B7 | | C#m | A | E | B7 | | F#m | A | E | B7 | | F#m | A | B7 | (NC) stop | Optional “Broadway lift”: after the (NC) stop, modulate +1 (to F#) for the last chorus. If you stay in E, skip the next block. Final Chorus — Modulated to F# (optional big button) | B | F# | C#7 | F# | | B | F# | C#7 | C#7 | | B | F# | C#7 | F# | | B | F# | C#7 | F# (button) | Outro (train beat fade or hard stop) | E | A | E | B7 | → E (ring) (or in modulated key: F# → B → F# → C#7 → F#)

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