SNAKE IN THE GRASS VELVET DAMAGE [INTRO — INSTRUMENTAL ONLY — 8 BARS] [Raw analog tape hiss, amplifier hum] [Crooked descending drop-D guitar riff] [Thick fuzzy bass doubles the guitar] [Live drums enter with a dirty, lurching groove] [Second guitar adds ugly bent notes and feedback] [Sudden stop before Verse 1] [ABSOLUTELY NO VOCALS, HUMMING, CHANTS OR VOCAL SAMPLES] [VERSE 1 — LOW SMOKY FEMALE LEAD, INTIMATE AND BITTER] You shook my hand with a loaded smile Said you'd walk beside me every mile Had my back, that's what you said While you counted every step ahead [SHORT CROOKED GUITAR RESPONSE] [HIGHER FEMALE VOICE JOINS IN EERIE CLOSE HARMONY] You knew the names, you knew the game Knew just where to place the blame Never raised your voice or showed your teeth Just kept your knife where I couldn't see [PRE-CHORUS — TWO FEMALE VOICES, TENSE HARMONIES] You don't need a gun to take a shot Don't need a match to burn the lot Some folks lie, some folks steal Some shake your hand while they turn the wheel [DRUM FILL, DISTORTED GUITAR SWELL] [ONE BEAT OF SILENCE] [CHORUS — HUGE MELODIC FEMALE DUET, HEAVY FULL BAND] SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I HEAR YOU MOVING! SMILE IN MY FACE! WHILE THE KNIFE GOES THROUGH ME! SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I KNOW YOUR KIND! SAY YOU GOT MY BACK WHILE YOU'RE WORKING BEHIND! [HIGH FEMALE HARMONY HOLDS THE LAST NOTE] [LOW FEMALE LEAD DELIVERS THE HOOK WITH A RASPY EDGE] [INSTRUMENTAL TURNAROUND — 8 BARS] [Crooked drop-D guitar riff, thick bass] [Feedback bends and live drum fills] [NO VOCALS] [POST-CHORUS — LOW FEMALE LEAD, HIGH FEMALE HARMONY] Keep your friends close Keep your enemies in sight It's the ones that call you brother That'll cut you in the night [VERSE 2 — LOW FEMALE LEAD, MORE CONFRONTATIONAL] You played the part, you wore the face Took your seat and knew your place Passed the word when I wasn't there Then acted shocked when it filled the air [DRUMS DROP TO KICK, SNARE AND HI-HAT] [HIGHER FEMALE VOICE WEAVES CLOSE HARMONY] Every favor came with strings Every promise had hidden things You didn't stab me in the street You pulled the ground from under my feet [PRE-CHORUS — BOTH FEMALE VOICES, RISING INTENSITY] You don't need a gun to take a shot Don't need a match to burn the lot Some folks lie, some folks steal Some shake your hand while they turn the wheel [CHORUS — FULL BAND, AGGRESSIVE FEMALE HARMONIES] SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I HEAR YOU MOVING! SMILE IN MY FACE! WHILE THE KNIFE GOES THROUGH ME! SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I KNOW YOUR KIND! SAY YOU GOT MY BACK WHILE YOU'RE WORKING BEHIND! [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK — 16 BARS] [Dirty dissonant guitar solo] [Warped string bends, feedback, ugly melodic phrases] [Thick bass holds the descending riff] [Live drums push into a heavier groove] [Second guitar answers with crooked harmonies] [NO VOCALS] [BRIDGE — LOW FEMALE LEAD, NEAR-WHISPERED] Funny how the truth comes out When the room gets quiet Funny how the loudest loyalty Never seems to buy it [BASS AND SPARSE CLEAN GUITAR ONLY] [HIGH FEMALE VOICE JOINS IN CLOSE HARMONY] I don't need revenge I don't need a scene I just know exactly What your friendship means [BREAKDOWN — SLOW, SLUDGY HALF-TIME DROP-D RIFF] [Massive bass, pounding snare, guitar feedback] [LOW FEMALE LEAD — COLD, RHYTHMIC DELIVERY] I saw the tracks I heard the sound I watched you smile While you dragged me down [HIGH FEMALE VOICE ENTERS, HARMONIES TURN DISSONANT] No more favors No more trust I know what crawls Beneath the dust [INSTRUMENTAL BUILD — 8 BARS] [Crooked guitar riff grows heavier] [Thick bass distortion and rolling tom fills] [Both guitars climb into shrieking feedback] [COMPLETE SILENCE — ONE BEAT] [FINAL CHORUS — BOTH FEMALE VOCALISTS, MAXIMUM POWER] SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I HEAR YOU MOVING! SMILE IN MY FACE! WHILE THE KNIFE GOES THROUGH ME! SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I KNOW YOUR KIND! SAY YOU GOT MY BACK WHILE YOU'RE WORKING BEHIND! [FINAL REFRAIN — EERIE TWO-FEMALE HARMONIES] Snake in the grass... I know your kind... Snake in the grass... You were never on my side... [OUTRO — SLOW DISTORTED GUITAR, FADING DRUMS] [LOW FEMALE LEAD — ALMOST SPOKEN] You can keep the handshake You can keep the smile I know what you are [HIGH FEMALE HARMONY — HAUNTING FINAL LINE] I just didn't know it for a while [FINAL DROP-D GUITAR CHORD] [FEEDBACK AND ANALOG TAPE HISS FADE] [END]
