Don't Tell Dad

///*****/// [Intro | bright synth riff | punchy drums | playful female vocal] Six years old, pink backpack Passport picture, crooked hat I said, "You ready to see the world?" [child voice | excited] "Yes!" [Verse 1 | bouncy | conversational lead] There's an old train station underneath the town Gate says KEEP OUT, stairs go down I should probably think this through But there's history down there waiting for you Flashlight shaking in my hand Graffiti tunnels, broken signs You're grinning like we struck gold I'm thinking, "This is irresponsible" [child voice] "Let's go!" [Pre-Chorus | rising synth chords | playful tension] Okay, stay close Don't touch that wire No, seriously— That could be a fire Maybe this is questionable Maybe slightly terrible But you'll remember every minute that we had [Chorus | huge melodic hook | stacked harmonies | bigger drums] It's probably fine It's probably fine We're making memories, we'll survive A little danger makes a better photograph Take my hand Stay by my side You can see the whole wide world tonight There's only one rule anywhere we go— Whatever happens Don't tell Dad [child voice | emphatic] "Nope!" [Verse 2 | driving groove | synth bass prominent] Roman catacombs beneath our feet Bones in the walls and a missing street Tour guide says, "Please remain with the group" Turn around twice and I've misplaced you Found you waving twenty yards away Making friends like it's your birthday My heart stopped dead for half a beat Then you yelled, "Look what I found!" [child voice] "Neat!" [Pre-Chorus | tom build | breathless delivery] Okay, new rule No disappearing And maybe don't climb Whatever you're nearing Should a six-year-old be underground With two thousand skeletons all around? Technically, I don't know But you've never looked this glad [Chorus | wide | stacked harmonies] It's probably fine It's probably fine We're making memories, we'll survive A little danger makes a better photograph Take my hand Stay by my side You can see the whole wide world tonight There's only one rule anywhere we go— Whatever happens Don't tell Dad [Verse 3 | faster phrasing | playful guitar accents] London traffic, rented car Wrong-side driving can't be hard Tiny problem—little scrape That double-decker came out of nowhere, babe [child voice] "Uh-oh!" Insurance form, crooked wheel I said, "This stays between us, deal?" You nodded solemn as a judge Then asked if we could do it again [child voice] "Let's go!" [Chorus | energetic | extra harmony responses] It's probably fine It's probably fine We're making memories, we'll survive A little chaos makes a better photograph Take my hand Stay by my side You can see the whole wide world tonight There's only one rule anywhere we go— Whatever happens Don't tell Dad [Bridge | half-time start | electric piano | escalating arrangement] Monday morning, school bell rings But Paris fares were practically free I called and said, "She has a fever" While we were boarding at Gate B [child voice | whisper] "Bonjour!" One hour solo in Tokyo I needed batteries three floors below Left you with snacks and strict instructions Came back—you'd organized a dance production [child voice] "Ta-da!" [Bridge Build | drums returning | vocal becoming more animated] Maybe I should make a list Of all the things responsible sisters wouldn't risk But every time I start to worry You look at me and say— [child voice | huge] "Where next?" [Final Chorus | full-power | key change | stacked harmonies | bright synth counterline] It's probably fine It's probably fine We're seeing everything before our time Every wrong turn makes a better photograph Take my hand Stay by my side I wanna show you every light in every sky And someday you'll tell stories about the life we had Just edit carefully When you tell Dad It's probably fine It's probably fine Rome to Paris, Tokyo nights Every crazy little place upon the map You and me Side by side Chasing every train and taking every flight There's only one rule anywhere we go— Whatever happens Don't tell Dad [child voice | laughing] "Never!" [Outro | bright synth riff | handclaps | playful fade] Don't tell Dad Don't tell Dad Especially about London [child voice] "Which part?" ...Absolutely none of London. #80sPop #SisterAdventure #DontTellDad #TravelSong #theatricalartpop