Tendies in bed

[Performance Notes] Male vocalist. Verses are melodic sing-rapped with tired emotional honesty, like a lonely Midwest dad staring out a rainy window. Underplay the humor in the verses — they should sound genuinely heartfelt and nostalgic. Chorus explodes into dramatic, deeply committed country ballad vocals with powerful sustain and emotional grit, as if singing about heartbreak… even when singing about chicken tenders and thermostat freedom. The humor comes from total sincerity. Pause slightly before punchlines like “picked ice cream off my shirt” and “even the dog is at the neighbors.” Final chorus should feel victorious, emotional, and absurdly uplifting. ⸻ [Intro - spoken softly over guitar] Yeah… They down there in Daytona… I’m up here freezin’ my whole soul off in Michigan… Ain’t even snowin’ pretty… just wet and gray and miserable… Then again… ain’t nobody here tellin’ me I can’t eat ice cream off my shirt either… ⸻ [Verse 1] They hit the pier today, sent pictures of the waves Kids got pool hair, sunshine on their face Meanwhile I’m up north, sky lookin’ concrete Cold wet wind cuttin’ straight through the street That kinda cold that settle in your bones Quiet little house when everybody gone I walked through the hallway half asleep at night Still lookin’ for the dog so I don’t trip over her right side They out there at Beach Bucket laughin’ over fries I’m headed back to work underneath gray skies Miss hearin’ cannonballs and flip flops on the floor Now it’s just me, silence, and a grocery store ⸻ [Pre-Chorus] And I swear I miss ‘em more than words can say… But somewhere between the sadness… I found somethin’ beautiful today… ⸻ [Chorus - BIG dramatic country voice] 🎵 I GET TO MAKE A MESS CAUSE I’M HOME ALONE Thermostat off and the heat all gone Kids outta town and the dog ain’t home College apartment in a grown man zone Chicken tenders in bed tonight Big fat bowl with the M&M bites Picked ice cream off my shirt — still good And honestly… life kinda beautiful would I miss my babies, yeah that part true But tonight this couch got nothin’ to prove Little sad… little free… little outta control High as a kite with gratitude in my soul 🎵 ⸻ [Verse 2 - melodic rap] I saw another palm tree picture hit my phone Meanwhile Michigan got the color tone of stone Rain on the windows, socks on cold feet Leftovers balanced on the arm of the seat And yeah I miss ‘em every minute they away Miss hearin’ little footsteps runnin’ through the place But there’s somethin’ kinda funny ‘bout the freedom too Like eatin’ airport candy like a raccoon do No bedtime rules, no “Dad clean this” Whole sink full of cups I pretend don’t exist And every now and then I laugh out loud alone Cause somehow peace and loneliness can share the same home ⸻ [Bridge - stripped down] 🎵 Even the dog is at the neighbors… Ain’t nobody left to judge me now… Not a soul… Just me… A spoon… And half a gallon somehow… 🎵 ⸻ [Final Chorus - bigger and funnier] 🎵 I GET TO MAKE A MESS CAUSE I’M HOME ALONE Watchin’ trash TV in my underwear zone Chicken tenders balanced right next to the phone Livin’ like a king on a collapsing throne They down in Daytona makin’ memories I’m up in Michigan makin’ cavities And somehow both things can be true I can miss the hell outta them… and still enjoy this view Little heartbreak, little THC Little gratitude sittin’ next to me Cold outside but the soul alright Ice cream shirt and a peaceful night 🎵 [Outro - spoken] Tomorrow I’ll probably clean this place… …probably