[Intro - spoken, low, weary, piano + brushed cymbal, vinyl crackle] Every morning... same table... same ache... [Verse 1 - upright bass, brushed drums, accordion, smoky jazz club ballad tempo] Every morning at eight she walks in like spring Nineteen years old with the light that she brings Notebooks and ribbons, eyes like the Seine And me... I’m fifty-three with a heart full of rain She doesn’t know that I count her sighs That I memorize the way she looks at the sky Her smile hits my chest like a thief in the night Steals a moment of joy from a lifetime of blight [Pre-Chorus - strings enter, muted trumpet, world-weary but tender] I come here to forget the hospital halls The phone calls at midnight, the long empty walls But then she laughs at some line in her book And God help me, I dare to look [Chorus - sparse, chanson style, no "yeah-yeah", deep baritone] Oh, mademoiselle with the poems in your hand You don’t know what you do to a tired old man Your smile’s a fleeting sun on my snow I should turn away, but I can’t let go I am falling too... God knows it’s wrong But your light makes me hum an old love song Mademoiselle... forgive me... so long [Verse 2 - piano solo, bass walks down, confessional tone] I’ve buried my laughter some twenty years deep In duty, in silence, in promises I keep My life is a room with the curtains drawn tight And she opens the window just by sitting in light She scribbles my name — I’ve seen it, my God In the margin, like I’m some chanson she’s awed If she knew the man behind the grey Would she still smile that dangerous way? [Pre-Chorus - bigger, strings swell, trumpet cries] I order black coffee and sit like stone Afraid that my eyes will give me away, unknown But when she looks up and our glances collide My sadness steps back, just for one ride [Chorus - repeat, add backing choir "ahh", more ache] Oh, mademoiselle with the poems in your hand You don’t know what you do to a tired old man Your smile’s a fleeting sun on my snow I should turn away, but I can’t let go I am falling too... God knows it’s wrong But your light makes me hum an old love song Mademoiselle... forgive me... so long [Bridge - breakdown, spoken over piano + cello, raw] I should get up. I should leave this place. Find another café. Erase her face. But I’m selfish... I stay for the pain... Because her joy is the only thing left that isn’t in vain... [Final Chorus - full orchestra, restrained, tragic dignity] Oh, mademoiselle with the poems in your hand You’ll never know how hard I stand Against the flood of wanting you here I am falling too... that much is clear But my winter has no right to your spring So I’ll drink my coffee... and I will not sing Mademoiselle... goodbye... my darling [Outro - slow fade, vinyl crackle, café door bell, heavy sigh] Another morning... another stolen smile...
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