[Intro — Girl, intimate] Monday morning, quarter past nine Put on my boots, no signal for miles Trees still dripping from rain in the night Every branch catching a different light [Verse 1 — Girl] I take the steep track up past the pines Air gets colder the higher I climb No revelation waiting up ahead Just peace and calm inside my head [Pre-Chorus — Girl] And I don’t need to know Where this old road ends I just follow where it bends [Chorus — Girl] It’s a red autumn run Through the golden leaves Somewhere I can let go Somewhere I can breathe I don’t need a reason I don’t need to outrun Anything at all On a red autumn run [Verse 2 — Boy, hick-hop] Pumpkins on the porch Sweat on my neck Calendar says fall But the air says heck Maple leaves turning By the county road Cutoffs and boots In this heavy heat load [Pre-Chorus — Boy] Taste the dust On the back of my tongue Sun sitting high Like it ain’t done [Chorus — Boy, country scream-o] HOT OCTOBER HOT OCTOBER Falling leaves but the day won’t let go HOT OCTOBER HOT OCTOBER Baby, won’t you come and cool me slow? (Cool me slow!) [Verse 3 — Girl / Boy alternating] Girl: There’s rain still hanging from the cedar limbs Boy: There’s heat still rising off the road again Girl: My hands are cold when the north wind moves Boy: I’m burning alive in these old work boots Girl: Come up where the air gets thin Boy: Girl, you don’t gotta ask me again Girl: Leave that county road behind Boy: Save me a little of that mountainside [Duet Pre-Chorus] Girl: You don’t have to run Boy: I ain’t trying to stay Girl: Then follow the leaves Boy: Baby, lead the way [Duet Chorus — melodies overlap] Girl: It’s a red autumn run Boy: HOT OCTOBER Girl: Through the golden leaves Boy: Day won’t let go Girl: Somewhere we can let go Somewhere we can breathe Boy: Come on, cool me down Bring that cold air to me Together: We don’t need a reason We don’t need to outrun Anything at all On a red autumn run Boy: Hot October— Girl: Come and cool down slow Together: We’ll follow where the red leaves go [Bridge — Boy begins, Girl answers] Boy: I bought a cinnamon candle And a bag of ice Set ’em by the front step Like a sacrifice Cornfield’s golden Sky’s hard blue Been waiting all October For a day like you Girl: Then leave the sweet tea Sitting by the door There’s a trail through the pines You ain’t seen before No signal waiting No place we have to be Boy: Just a little cold air— Girl: And a little room to breathe [Breakdown — Boy scream-o / Girl floating vocal] Boy: I’VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS— HOT OCTOBER! Girl: (Let it go…) Boy: SUN WON’T QUIT AND THE DUST WON’T SETTLE! Girl: (Follow me home…) Boy: I’VE BEEN WAITING ON THE WEATHER TO CHANGE! Girl: Maybe you don’t have to wait [Final Chorus — Full Duet] Together: It’s a red autumn run Through the golden leaves Somewhere we can let go Somewhere we can breathe Boy: HOT OCTOBER! Girl: Let the cold wind come Boy: HOT OCTOBER! Girl: You don’t have to run Together: We don’t need a reason We don’t need to outrun Anything at all On a red autumn run Boy: Hot October— Girl: Cool me slow Together: We’ll follow where the red leaves go [Outro — Girl intimate / Boy distant] Girl: No revelation waiting up ahead Just peace and calm inside my head Boy: (Hot October…) Girl: Come walk with me instead Boy: Yeah… Together: Where the red leaves go.
