“THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS “ Performed Da’Outlaw Written by 12Gauge858 Intro [Guard — spoken] Zoec. Upstairs. Now. [Zoec — female, quietly] Amy… Remember what we counted. [Amy — female whisper] Every mistake. [Verse 1 — Gritty male outlaw narrator, sparse resonator guitar] Zoec climbed the narrow staircase Pink sleeve brushing splintered pine Three guards posted by the landing One kept checking on the time Old mill groaned beneath the thunder Lamplight crossed a polished floor Woman waiting by the window Never turned toward the door “Your Outlaw’s coming,” said the woman Zoec answered, “Maybe so.” “Then you know he’ll bring the others.” Zoec smiled, “You oughta know.” [Chorus — Deep outlaw blues, restrained male harmony] THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS! SHE KNOWS TOO MUCH! Every road and every rider Every hand we trust! THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS! BEHIND THAT DOOR! She ain’t asking where we’re going She knows what she’s looking for! [Verse 2 — Dark electric blues guitar, rising bass] Woman placed a folded paper On the table by her chair Names of every single Compadre Written carefully in pairs Jennifer beside her mare Sarah watching every door Stephanie guarding boundaries Saint refusing drinks once poured James and MarieP, SirSpyder Every weakness, every skill Zoec saw the same handwriting From the wagon by the mill [Zoec — female spoken] You didn’t learn all this yourself. [Woman — female spoken] No. Your friends were very helpful. [Chorus — Full male gang harmonies] THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS! SHE KNOWS TOO MUCH! Every road and every rider Every hand we trust! THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS! BEHIND THAT DOOR! She ain’t asking where we’re going She knows what she’s looking for! [Breakdown — Instruments stop, distant mill gears] [Zoec — female spoken] Where’s Lady Temptation? [Woman] Doing what she was told. [Zoec] And Snake? [Woman] Still learning. [Zoec] You’re studying us. [Woman] No, sweetheart. I’m studying him. [Verse 3 — Low intimate narrator, single cello pulse] Down below, Amy heard the footsteps Counted four across the floor Found the loose board by the lantern Moved it softly toward the door Underneath, an old iron channel Ran beneath the miller’s wheel Amy followed where it opened Found a wire wrapped in steel Three short taps and two held beats Echoed faintly through the stone Zoec heard the signal upstairs Knew that Amy wasn’t alone [Outro — Total instrumental dropout] [Woman — spoken] Tell me something, Zoec. [Zoec] What? [Woman] When Da’ Outlaw comes for you… Will Bella recognize the man riding beside him? [Silence] [Zoec — quietly] What man? [Woman] The one who gave me your names. [Single hoof scrape heard outside] [Bella — distant SNORT] [Hard cut to silence]
