The Astronaut’s Dealer

Neo Prog Ballad, Noir Synth Rock, Space Lounge Funk, male vocalist, female backing

[Intro – Slow, moody Fender Rhodes + soft brass swells]
[Instrumental: Fender Rhodes, analog synth pad, subtle upright bass walk]
[FX: Soft static crackle, like an old radio coming online]

[Verse 1 – Male Lead Vocal]
He came down in a stolen suit,  
Boots full of dust and hotel loot.  
Asked, “You still got the key to the old machine?  
The one with the red light and dopamine?”

[Jazz guitar enters with lazy bends, brushed drums start under vocals]

I laughed like I’d never touched the stuff—  
Said, “You look clean, but kinda rough.”  
He said, “Don’t lie, I taught you sin.  
Now let me back inside again.”

[Bridge A – Bass groove deepens][Moog lead adds staccato accents, panned]
He called it “orbit,” but it felt like debt.  
The lift-off burned, the re-entry wet.  
We used to name the clouds before we’d sleep,  
Till he swapped his pulse for a signal sweep.

[Soft brass ensemble swells in and out on downbeats]

[Verse 2]
They made him a star with a broken map—  
Now he buys his dreams in vacuum wrap.  
I said, “You're home.” He said, “Not quite.  
I still owe Lars for that trip last night.”

[Spoken: Male, filtered like a radio transmission]
"Don't you remember the ice fields,  
where the drone swore it saw God in the fracture line?"

[Bridge B – Spoken Word + Atmospheric Swell]
[FX: Cold wind through metal pipes, distant heartbeat-like thump]
(I remember a heat lamp and your fingers twitching.)  
"You promised to keep the tapes."  
(I erased them the moment I heard your laugh.)

[Verse 3 – Male Vocal Returns, deeper][Guitar darker, slight tremolo; sub bass becomes dominant]
He laid down on that cold harsh wood,  
Eyes like he'd seen what no man should.  
He passed me a vial and a faded song—  
A mixtape labeled (Nothing’s Wrong.)
“You always had the better lies,”  
He whispered through nicotine sighs.

[Fender Rhodes chords stretched and reverbed, slowing down]
But when I checked the cabin log,  
He'd been dead a week. And I signed it, (Dog.)

[Outro – Whispered Vocal Duet: Male + Female whispers]
"You fed him stars / He gave you skin"
"You built his cage / Then crawled within" 
"No heroes here / Just names we burn"
"In zero-G, we all return..."

[FX Outro – Synth modulated heartbeat fades out. Static crackle resumes and dies slowly]

"I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, Dave."

[End]

2907/7500

[Metadata] Title: The Astronaut’s Dealer Genres: Neo Prog Ballad, Noir Synth Rock, Space Lounge Funk Instruments: Fender Rhodes, Jazz Guitar, Analog Synth Arp, Upright Bass, Layered Vocals, Soft Brass Ensemble, Moog Lead, Subtle Phaser Drums Mood: Sardonic, Nostalgic, Cosmic, Confessional Tempo: 88-99 BPM Key: F# minor Vocalist: Male (silky with a crackling undertow) Backing: Female whispered harmonies in key lines Song Type: Storytelling Ballad (through-composed, no chorus repeats) *(Keep the synths subtle but warbly, drums brushed not snapped.)* --- [Intro – Slow, moody Fender Rhodes + soft brass swells] [Instrumental: Fender Rhodes, analog synth pad, subtle upright bass walk] [FX: Soft static crackle, like an old radio coming online] [Verse 1 – Male Lead Vocal] He came down in a stolen suit, Boots full of dust and hotel loot. Asked, “You still got the key to the old machine? The one with the red light and dopamine?” [Jazz guitar enters with lazy bends, brushed drums start under vocals] I laughed like I’d never touched the stuff— Said, “You look clean, but kinda rough.” He said, “Don’t lie, I taught you sin. Now let me back inside again.” [Bridge A – Bass groove deepens][Moog lead adds staccato accents, panned] He called it “orbit,” but it felt like debt. The lift-off burned, the re-entry wet. We used to name the clouds before we’d sleep, Till he swapped his pulse for a signal sweep. [Soft brass ensemble swells in and out on downbeats] [Verse 2] They made him a star with a broken map— Now he buys his dreams in vacuum wrap. I said, “You're home.” He said, “Not quite. I still owe Lars for that trip last night.” [Spoken: Male, filtered like a radio transmission] "Don't you remember the ice fields, where the drone swore it saw God in the fracture line?" [Bridge B – Spoken Word + Atmospheric Swell] [FX: Cold wind through metal pipes, distant heartbeat-like thump] (I remember a heat lamp and your fingers twitching.) "You promised to keep the tapes." (I erased them the moment I heard your laugh.) [Verse 3 – Male Vocal Returns, deeper][Guitar darker, slight tremolo; sub bass becomes dominant] He laid down on that cold harsh wood, Eyes like he'd seen what no man should. He passed me a vial and a faded song— A mixtape labeled (Nothing’s Wrong.) “You always had the better lies,” He whispered through nicotine sighs. [Fender Rhodes chords stretched and reverbed, slowing down] But when I checked the cabin log, He'd been dead a week. And I signed it, (Dog.) [Outro – Whispered Vocal Duet: Male + Female whispers] "You fed him stars / He gave you skin" "You built his cage / Then crawled within" "No heroes here / Just names we burn" "In zero-G, we all return..." [FX Outro – Synth modulated heartbeat fades out. Static crackle resumes and dies slowly] "I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, Dave." [End]

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