[Intro – Instrumental, 8 bars] [Guitar riff slices in, then joined by brass stabs and drumroll into stomp beat] [Verse 1 – Male Vocal] She came through smoke in a brass-caged grin, Locked my sights and reeled me in. With boots like sin and a pocket full o’ fire, She cut my purse and lit the wire. [Verse 2 – Female Vocal] He rode in loud with a grin too wide, Gun on his hip and ego to hide. Thought he’d steal my sky and claim my score— So I took his map and locked the door. [Pre-Chorus – Both, alternating lines then unison] [He]: You play with sparks, I dance with blades. [She]: You kiss like war, I curse like spades. [Both]: We’ve burned the same old streets before— And now we’re back to settle scores. [Chorus – Full band, harmonized vocals] Clocks and daggers, boots and brass, We ride the storm, we raise the glass. Crossed like wires, sharp like steam, We’re every scoundrel’s fever dream. Love and larceny in our veins— A kiss, a spark, and runaway trains. Clocks and daggers, strike again— Before the gears forget our name. [Verse 3 – Female Lead with swagger] I stole the crown, he stole the key, But baby, you can’t outfox me. I rigged the vault with a song and smile— He tripped it just to watch me wile. [Verse 4 – Male Lead, amused tone] You framed me once in a velvet trap, Then broke me out for the final lap. You ain’t no saint, but you sure do shine— The queen of smoke, and half of mine. [Pre-Chorus – Both again, heat rising] [She]: You shoot too slow, I strike too soon. [He]: But we dance like knives beneath the moon. [Both]: We roll the dice, we rig the game— Two devils laughing in the rain. [Chorus – Bigger brass, deeper harmonies] Clocks and daggers, gears collide, We kiss to kill and ride the tide. Rust and velvet, ash and flame— We set the town then take the blame. Sharp like truth, soft like smoke— Our love’s a gamble, wired to choke. Clocks and daggers, one more spin— We’ll lose it all and grin again. [Instrumental Bridge – Guitar & Brass Duel, Tambourine & Snare March] [Trading melody lines, male and female vocalizations echo wordlessly, like breath and blade chasing each other through steam.] [Final Chorus – Call and Response + Unison] [She]: Clocks and daggers, etched in gold— [He]: We steal the night, we never fold. [Both]: Grit and glamour, sin and style— We light the fuse and ride the mile. One last waltz ‘fore morning breaks— Two hearts on fire, no brakes, no brakes! [Outro – Spoken Over Final Chords] [She (whispers)]: "You gonna kiss me... or rob me blind?" [He (smirks)]: "Why not both?" [Final chord hits. Clock chime echoes. Fade out.]
