[Section: Intro; Inflection: Soft, atmospheric; FX: High-pass filter, stereo delay] (Instrumental build-up) (Faint echoes in the atmospheric space [Section: Verse 1; Inflection: Warm, storytelling; FX: Proximity effect, subtle tape saturation] Early morning mist on the Chesapeake Bay Watch the skipjacks waking to another working day From the red dirt ridges where the Monocacy flows Down to Clopper Road where the ancient oak tree grows There’s a warm breeze blowing from the Eastern Shore Saying, "Welcome home, traveler, don't you roam no more." [Section: Chorus; Inflection: Anthemic, emotional, soaring; FX: Wide stereo image, plate reverb, parallel compression] Maryland morning, sweet summer sky Black-eyed Susans catching my eye Take me down to the water, where the blue crabs run Underneath the banner of the free State sun Oh, Maryland, you’re the place I belong! [Section: Verse 2; Inflection: Energetic, raspy, narrative; FX: Warm tube saturation, crisp transients] Hear the heavy iron clang at the Camden Yards See the mountains rising like the old frontier guards From the row-house stoops where the high notes ring To the western hills where the hemlocks sing You can feel the rhythm, you can feel the pride From the deep Atlantic to the mountain side! [Section: Chorus 2; Inflection: Anthemic, powerful, driving; FX: Wide stereo image, plate reverb, parallel compression] Maryland morning, sweet summer sky Black-eyed Susans catching my eye Take me down to the water, where the blue crabs run Underneath the banner of the free State sun Oh, Maryland, you’re the place I belong! [Section: Bridge; Inflection: Building intensity, rhythmic, stomp-clap; FX: Parallel compression, room reverb expansion] Red, white, and gold, and the blackest night (Stomp-stomp-clap!) We stand together and we fly our kite (Stomp-stomp-clap!) From the harbor lights to the Piedmont plain Win or lose, we’re singing out your name! Yeah, we're singing out your name! [Section: Final Chorus; Inflection: Climactic, maximum intensity, triumphant; FX: Maximum stereo width, high-frequency air, brickwall limiting saturation] Maryland morning, sweet summer sky Black-eyed Susans catching my eye Take me down to the water, where the blue crabs run Underneath the banner of the free State sun Oh, Maryland, you’re the place I belong! [Section: Outro; Inflection: Lingering, warm, decaying; FX: Tape delay trail, low-pass filter fade-out] Yeah, the place I belong... Old Clopper Road, take me home... Maryland home.
