[Intro] (upright bass solo, walking low, no piano, 8 bars) (piano enters: left hand ostinato, single notes only) [Verse 1] (voice low, entering over bass and piano) One thing left upon the shelf The kind that doesn't need a name The counter turns while nothing moves Still counting all the same [Verse 2] (space between lines, let rhythm breathe) Somewhere out there numbers turning I'm here watching it go slow Not waiting for it to finish Just letting the counting show [Chorus] (soft but clear, grounded warmth) Still counting That's the shape Still in the loop Still holding on Still counting Nothing arrives Just the figure and the silence Still moving through [Verse 3] (voice near speaking, accepting tone) The loop came back… then it stayed A figure on the clock… a mark that played I let the numbers… run how they run Not every count… has to reach one [Outro] (almost silent, barely there) Still counting now… soft and plain Same quiet figure… again and again Let the loop settle… let the tone start Still counting quietly… still.
