[Opening — bright piano] Make....yourself..... comfortable........ They’ll be right back. [Hard cut — drums, low bass] [Verse 1 — relaxed, precise] Court at nine. Bus at six. Mother got a folder Held together with a clip. Picture from his graduation. Letters from his coach. Lawyer says, “Might not need those.” She holds them with his coat. Across the hall— Nice watch. Light laugh. Somebody gets another month. Somebody gets, “Stand back.” Same age. New phrase. “Bright future.” “Prior trouble.” One gets room to make mistakes. One gets buried in the rubble. [Accelerate] Fees on fees, receipt beneath A rent reminder folded neat. Justice got a balanced scale— Who can pay to find the seam? [Beat cuts] Dad said, “Stand up straight.” Never said the floor was level. [Pre-Hook —cinematic rising] Ask one question Watch them tap-dance Smile for the camera Cut to the ad [Hook — melodic rap] We’ll be right back Right back, right back Somebody’s still waiting Where you left them at We’ll be right back Right back, right back Changed the whole picture But the cracks came back [Post-Hook — bass answers] New suit Same crack Fresh paint Same crack Hold up— Run that back Who gets paid When we look past that? [Verse 2 — loose pocket] Red porch. Blue porch. Rain through both roofs. Neighbors checking yard signs. Neither checking loose screws. One says, “Those people.” Other says it back. Both got a bucket Where the ceiling used to crack. Different laws, different costs— Keep the difference in the frame. But a party can’t replace The conscience in your name. [Cadence tightens] Top-floor, locked-door, portfolio talk. Never missed rent, got advice for the block. “Cut back.” On what? The ride or the lunch? Your cushion’s a trust fund. Mine came off the bus. Born into billions, Talking sacrifice. Never held a grocery line While a card declined twice. [Pause] You know the price of buildings. Who taught you what a home costs? [Pre-Hook cinematic tension build] Ask one question Watch them tap-dance Smile for the camera Cut to the ad [Hook — same melody] We’ll be right back Right back, right back Somebody’s still waiting Where you left them at We’ll be right back Right back, right back Changed the whole picture But the cracks came back [Instrumental — 8 bars] [Four-note motif; bass answers] [Verse 3 — deliberate] Palm trees. Polished brass. Small shoes by a waiting chair. Years go past. Women carry memories Into rooms that weigh their words. Paper gets a signature. Who makes sure they’re heard? State office. Federal office. Different roles inside the record. Non-prosecution agreement. Read before you defend it. [Silence] Another page. [Drums return] Same official. Later Cabinet. Different seal. I sat with it. Timeline in two folders. Put them side by side. A documented connection— Not proof of another crime. Keep the finding with the claim. Keep the dates beside the name. Crop the truth for impact? You’re producing the same game. Protect survivors’ privacy. An office still owes scrutiny. [Beat Switch — 8 bars] [Jazz piano, muted brass, new bass pocket] [Verse 4 — nimble, conversational] School bell. Short class. Branches on a chart. Learned the names of offices. Missed who could stop what. Teacher bought the pencils. Thirty hands, one clock. Needed public records. Got another worksheet box. Now a ring light gives a lecture, Selling certainty with supplements. Every question gets an enemy. Every enemy gets merchandise. Sent a clip. Felt smart. Didn’t watch the missing part. Found it later— Whole new meaning. Had to take my claim apart. [Beat cuts] Posted the correction. Nobody called that brave. [Beat returns] First one caught a hundred fires. Truth just sat there on the page. Cartoon, toy ad, Little tune you hum for weeks. Learn what makes a hero Before you learn to read. Worth examining— Not proof of secret crimes. Can’t call out manipulation While I manufacture mine. [Bridge — exposed piano] A woman holds a picture. There’s a chair nobody takes. There’s a question she’s rehearsed For more years than I can name. Let her finish. Leave it quiet. Let the sentence find its end. We give power every microphone. Give her one that stays plugged in. [Final Build] Ask the office. Ask the party. Who decided? Who got heard? Watch the answer turn a corner. Bring it back. Repeat the words. [Final Hook — exposed, then full drums] We’ll be right back Right back, right back That’s what they told her Now her photograph’s cracked We’ll be right back Right back, right back She’s still in that chair We’re still cutting to ads [Final Post-Hook] Hold that frame Let her talk Keep it rolling Don’t cut her off Hold that frame Leave it there Let the answer Fill that chair [Outro] Make yourself uncomfortable. We’re staying with this. Same soul. Different frequency. [Instrumental — 16 bars] [Piano hook and bass trade; muted brass answers] [Drums fall away; final chord resolves] [Decay] [End]
