Verse 1 Tone drops, radio cracks, “10 Delta 1 chest pain. ” Coffee’s still steaming but the race has begun Address on the screen, we’re cutting through the night Red lights painting every window we pass by in flight I’m running the call in my head, ABCs Hope in my pocket and protocols up my sleeve We hit the door fast, try to read the room Fear in their eyes says we got here just in time, not too soon Pre-Chorus Left arm pain, pale and cold with that clammy skin The clock starts screaming before we even begin Chorus Minutes are muscle and the seconds slice thin Twelve-lead prints out and the story’s written in ST elevation rising like a siren through the page “Call the cath lab, it’s a STEMI,” I say through the haze I hold their hand and tell them, “You’re not alone tonight” We’re racing the reaper under flashing lights Not on my watch if there’s something we can do Between the ticking of the timer — I’m fighting for you Verse 2 Oxygen flowing, aspirin on the tongue Vitals in rhythm, my partner’s already rung The hospital line — calm voice on the other end “STEMI alert activated,” like a lifeline we send I see the fear flicker, then the brave shine through As they tell me the names of the ones they love too We load and go — diesel heartbeat in the air Every bump in the road feels like a whispered prayer Pre-Chorus I talk them through each breath so they don’t drift away Eyes on the monitor, but I hear every word they say Chorus Minutes are muscle and the seconds slice thin Twelve-lead prints out and the story’s written in ST elevation rising like a siren through the page “Call the cath lab, it’s a STEMI,” I say through the haze I hold their hand and tell them, “You’re not alone tonight” We’re racing the reaper under flashing lights Not on my watch if there’s something we can do Between the ticking of the timer — I’m fighting for you Bridge People think it’s skill, wires, meds, and speed But sometimes it’s just being there when they bleed unseen A steady voice in the chaos and noise A small calm island they can hold like a choice I wear the weight of the ones we couldn’t save But tonight I’m praying this one misbehaves with the grave Final Chorus Minutes are muscle — we slam through the bay Hands off to the team — they whisk them away I stand in the doorway with sweat on my sleeve Silent ambulance, lights dim, time to breathe Another chart to write, another call in the queue But in the echo of the sirens I carry you Not on my watch if there’s something we can do Between the ticking of the timer — I’m fighting for you
