Summer of 95'

[Intro | soft distant acoustic strum + distant beach waves, breathy hum] Last century... spring break '95... [Verse 1 | breathy close-mic, awkward spoken stutters, guitar taps + palm mutes] Florida sand in my Velcro sneakers, Toy Story buzz still in my head CJ running on the beach, hair in pigtails, Pocahontas shirt turning red To her mom she was Caledonia Jean, all proper and Scottish hills But to ten-year-old me that little mound was giant mountains, heart standing still I tried to speak, mouth full of Macarena moves I couldn't do Just stared and groaned awkwardly, like Billy Madison tripping in his shoes [Pre-Chorus | tension build, rising distorted guitar] She smiled, said "you're cute, come with me" Flip phone didn't exist, no texts to save me [Chorus | huge melodic punk drop, raspy belt, layered harmonies] No moves left on that spring break board Checkmate heart in '95, forever scored CJ went with the boy one year older, GoldenEye cool Left me with Goosebumps and a pocket full of Pogs, feeling like a fool Last century crush, still burns in my chest Awkward 10-year-old love, man I failed the test! [Verse 2 | breathy close-mic, awkward spoken stutters, guitar taps + palm mutes] Clueless wasn't out yet, but I was living it, "whatever" stuck in my throat Batman Forever nipples on the suit, while I was sweating in my cargo coat Friends on the TV back home, ER drama I didn't understand Here I was frozen on the sand, Tamagotchi dying in my hand She waved, older kid with the cool bowl cut and Nintendo Power mag I just groaned again, palms sweaty, invisible drag [Pre-Chorus | tension build, rising distorted guitar] Waterfalls playing on the boombox down the way TLC warning me, but I was already washed away [Chorus | huge melodic punk drop, raspy belt, layered harmonies] No moves left on that spring break board Checkmate heart in '95, forever scored CJ went with the boy one year older, Windows 95 dreams Left me with Braveheart courage that never showed up, or so it seems Last century crush, digitized in my brain These memories from a whole different age, still causing me pain [Bridge | theatrical spoken-word over slowed cinematic beat, internal kid-conflict] (spoken, cracking) I saw her laughing... hand in his... Thought that hill was Everest... turns out it was just a kid's kiss... Last century... no internet to stalk... no Insta to block... Just me, the waves, and that awkward groan that never stopped... [Final Chorus | full defiant layered scream] No moves left! But fuck it, I survived That spring break '95 still alive in my mind CJ, Caledonia Jean, wherever you are now I finally found my voice, thirty years too late, but take a bow Last century love... still the loudest sound Awkward kid no more... I'm burning it down! [Outro | fading warped 90s synth + echoing mantra, glass chime tails] No moves left... last century... CJ... faded like old Pogs...