⸻ 🎼 “I Need the Antidote (To My Sons)” ⸻ [Intro | soft piano | warm pad | distant childlike bell tones] Long day hanging from my shoulders Dust and noise still in my clothes Then I hear your little footsteps running And all that weight just lets me go Oh ⸻ [Verse 1 | light drums enter | warm guitar pulse] First thing when I walk through the door Little arms come crashing into me Like I’m a king, like I’m a hero Like I’m everything I hoped to be Every hurt I carried home Starts dissolving in your laugh All the strain, the hours, the distance Break apart the minute that you ask “Daddy, come and play with us” And the whole world fades away Every burden loses power When I hear my boys say my name ⸻ [Pre-Chorus | rising lift | emotional build] You make the tired leave my body You make the darkness lose its hold You turn an ordinary moment Into more than I can hold ⸻ [Chorus | full, uplifting, emotional] I need the antidote You are the joy that brings me back to life I need the antidote You are the reason all this fight feels right I need the antidote Ooh ooh I need the antidote Ooh ooh I need the antidote ⸻ [Chant Chorus 1 | playful rhythm | bright energy] Down and out I’m out when I’m down and out Then you run right into me Down and out I’m out when I’m down and out And you bring me back to me ⸻ [Verse 2 | warmer | more movement] Living room covered in Lego kingdoms Hot Wheels flying off the couch Monster trucks and little footsteps Everywhere I turn, your joy breaks out Piggyback rides and silly voices Movie nights and snacks too late Trips to parks and backyard battles Every memory worth the wait I go to work, I pay the cost But every hour has got your name Every dollar, every effort Is just my way of getting back again ⸻ [Pre-Chorus 2 | stronger build] You make the future feel like promise You make my spirit want to sing You make me want to show the whole world To the little kings you’re growing to be ⸻ [Instrumental Solo 1 | emotional electric guitar lead | playful heroic phrasing] ⸻ [Bridge / Verse 3 | drop drums | piano + pad | deeply heartfelt] One day you’ll be taller than me One day you’ll run roads of your own But I pray somewhere inside your memory You still feel how much you were loved at home Every game, every story Every bedtime, every song Every little moment with you boys Is the place where I belong And if you ever wonder later Why I worked and why I tried It was all to build more time with you All to keep this joy alive ⸻ [Final Chorus | biggest lift | layered vocals | full emotional release] I need the antidote You are the love that turns my dark to light I need the antidote You are the reason I keep winning fights I need the antidote Ooh ooh I need the antidote Ooh ooh I need the antidote ⸻ [Outro Chant | softened, grateful] Down and out I’m out when I’m down and out You were there, my sons, my light Down and out I’m out when I’m down and out You were there and made me right ⸻ [Final Line | soft, close, sincere] You are my antidote ⸻
