[Intro] [Crying pedal steel guitar solo] [Slow weeping fiddle, gentle acoustic strumming] [Verse 1] [Slow Country Ballad] [Resonant baritone, raw emotional delivery] Cover was two bucks, they got what they paid Watching an old fool go down in flames. I tipped my hat, let 'em think I was fine, Then sat at the bar and waited my time. [Vocal bend] Sang a song about heartbreak and losing your mind Like I ain’t the hypocrite I am half the time. [Short Pedal Steel Fill] [Chorus] [Swell] [Emotional, soaring baritone] Call me the singer, call me the fool I’m selling 'em real heartbreak, a quarter a song, [Crying vocals] I let you break every damn golden rule. Now you’re in his bed where you don't belong. Every drunk in this place has got somewhere to be, [Sustained vocal bend] And I’m stuck in this bar and I’m too broken to sleep. [Instrumental Interlude] [Pedal steel guitar and weeping fiddle turn] [Verse 2] [Subdued, conversational delivery] Hung my bomber jacket on the back of a chair Unplugged the amp, left the cables right there. Poured me a shot of the cheap bottom-shelf, [Vocal crack on "cursing"] Leaving at midnight just cursing myself. Reeking of draft and secondhand nicotine, Drove back to an unmade bed missing routine. [Chorus] [Swell] [Full voice, deep emotion] Call me the singer, call me the fool I’m selling 'em real heartbreak, a quarter a song, I let you break every damn golden rule. Now you’re in his bed where you don't belong. Every drunk in this place has got somewhere to be, [Sustained vocal bend] And I’m stuck in this bar and I’m too broken to sleep. [Bridge] [Tempo slows] [Minimal instrumentation, just acoustic guitar and soft steel] [Low, gravelly baritone] What’s a room full of clapping when the house lights come up? Just a group of strangers getting up. [Vocal rise] I ain't singing for glory, I'm just biding my time And trying to drown out how my best years passed by. [Guitar Solo] [Emotional, slow pedal steel guitar solo with weeping fiddle harmony] [Chorus] [Climax] [Dynamic, soaring weeping vocals] Call me the singer, call me the fool I’m selling 'em real heartbreak, a quarter a song, I let you break every damn golden rule. [Pain in voice] Now you’re in his bed where you don't belong. Every drunk in this place has got somewhere to be, [Soaring sustained note] And I’m stuck in this bar and I’m too broken to sleep. [Outro] [Music fades to soft acoustic guitar and distant steel] [Vocal Ad-Lib] [Emotional, freestyle vocal trailing off] Yeah, they all got somewhere to go... [Spoken] And I get a TV dinner and an empty house. [Low baritone whisper] Lord, just an empty house. [Spoken / Melodic vocal ad-libs, quiet sighing] [Improvised trailing vocals] [Single acoustic guitar chord fade out]
