[Intro - Sparse, haunting piano] [Soft wind, distant creaking swing] [Verse 1 - Deep, intimate male vocal] At the edge of town, where the streetlights end, There's a broken gate that nobody mends. An old playground beneath the trees, Where a rusty swing moves in the breeze. Every night when the clock strikes three, It starts to move where no one can see. Back and forth in the pale moonlight, Though the air is still... And there's no wind tonight. [Pre-Chorus - Quiet, building tension] I heard a laugh. I heard my name. A little voice From an empty frame. [Chorus - Haunting, melodic, restrained] WHO'S ON THE EMPTY SWING? WHO'S SINGING IN THE DARK? WHO'S CALLING OUT MY NAME WHEN THE NIGHT FALLS APART? ROUND AND ROUND, BACK AND FORTH, A LITTLE VOICE THAT I CAN'T IGNORE. AND EVERY TIME I TURN TO LEAVE, THE EMPTY SWING CALLS BACK TO ME. [Verse 2 - Piano and atmospheric guitar] I stepped inside through the broken gate, Though every instinct screamed, "It's late." The chains were moving, slow and low, And beneath the seat... Two footprints showed. A little ribbon lay upon the ground, And somewhere close, I heard a sound. A tiny voice, so sweet and clear, Said, "I've been waiting... ALL THESE YEARS." [Pre-Chorus - Drums enter] I felt the cold. I heard the chain. The little voice Called out again. [Chorus - Full band, powerful emotional delivery] WHO'S ON THE EMPTY SWING? WHO'S SINGING IN THE DARK? WHO'S CALLING OUT MY NAME WHEN THE NIGHT FALLS APART? ROUND AND ROUND, BACK AND FORTH, A LITTLE VOICE THAT I CAN'T IGNORE. AND EVERY TIME I TURN TO LEAVE, THE EMPTY SWING CALLS BACK TO ME. [Instrumental - Slow, expressive guitar solo over haunting piano] [Bridge - Music drops to a low heartbeat-like pulse] [Almost whispered] "Would you push me?" I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. "Just one little push... And then you can leave." I reached for the chains. My fingers turned cold. The swing stopped moving. And a small hand Took hold of my own. [Heavy drums and distorted guitars build] [Final Chorus - Huge, desperate, soaring rock vocals] WHO'S ON THE EMPTY SWING? WHO'S STANDING BY MY SIDE? WHO'S HOLDING ON SO TIGHT WHEN THERE'S NOWHERE LEFT TO HIDE? ROUND AND ROUND, BACK AND FORTH, THE PLAYGROUND'S GONE, THE WORLD IS LOST. I CALL FOR HELP, BUT NO ONE HEARS. THE EMPTY SWING HAS WAITED YEARS. [Final Verse - Music gradually falls away] The morning came. The town awoke. The playground stood Beneath the oaks. Two swings moved Where one had been. And on the gate, A painted sign... THE MIDNIGHT CARNIVAL. CHILDREN ENTER FREE. [Outro - Lonely piano and creaking chains] [Whispered, distant] "Would you push me?" [Long instrumental fade] [Very quiet final whisper] "Now it's your turn."
