[Intro: near a cappella, silence, one piano note, breath, 15 sec] [soft, intimate, knowing not bitter, chest voice] [Verse 1: 0:15-0:45] You were already gone in the way you said goodbye Not loud, just careful, like you didn't want to lie You left the light on, you left the back door wide I counted that as honest, I didn't count the time [Pre-Chorus: 0:45-1:05] I learned early how to hear what isn't said How a room gets quiet before someone leaves the bed How a voice gets lighter when it's holding something heavy [Chorus: 1:05-1:40 — slow lyrical yodel, flip inside word] Maybe I knew it would leave[flip] before it left Maybe I heard it in your breath You didn't have to say it, I felt the di[flip]rection Maybe I knew, maybe I knew [Verse 2: 1:40-2:15] You talked about summer like it was already past I talked about staying like staying ever lasts You looked at the road more than you looked at me Not cruel, just — your eyes were already where you would be [Pre-Chorus 2: 2:15-2:35] I'm not angry, I'm not blind I just hear the ending at the same time as the start That's how I was made, that's how I listen [Chorus 2: 2:35-3:10] Maybe I knew it would leave before it left Maybe I heard it in the way you kept Something back, something safe, something you couldn't mention Maybe I knew, maybe I knew [Bridge: 3:10-3:45 — lyrical yodel as memory, NOT fast, let word ache, silence] Maybe I knew and I stayed[flip] anyway Maybe I knew you'd go and I loved you that day I didn't know it would hurt like this But I knew you would leave[flip] [Instrumental: piano + breath, 8 seconds, silence as instrument] [Final Chorus: 3:45-4:20 — double, intimate then lift, then drop to nothing] Maybe I knew it would leave before it left Maybe I knew and I stayed[flip] anyway Maybe I knew you'd go and I loved you that day Maybe I knew... [Outro: 4:20-end — one note, one breath, one word, then nothing, total target 3:45] [one breath, silence, one piano note]
