[Intro: piano] [Verse 1] [Cmaj9] I breathed through leaves [Am9] As childhood rolled chestnuts toward school [Fmaj7] An autumn I forever keep in mind [G6]The very first story, [Em7] the first perfect ten [A7] Shining over the ten of the hour [Dm7] In a morning where words crowded me in. [A new canvas, Genre shift: Art-Jazz] [Pre-Chorus] [Bmaj] Decisive sentences, heavy as fate [Gm7] Repeated ten years later on a page [Cmaj] Another ten over the thesis line [Chorus] [Cmaj7] By these white flowers, trumpets in the wind [Am9] Pouring out words, unwritten and free [Fmaj7] About the time of joy in seconds I stole [D7] The sudden elevations of the soul. [Fm7] Hold onto the anchor, don't let it snap too soon... [Cmaj9] I breathed, [Bbmaj7] therefore I was. [Gadd9] Yes, I breathed, therefore I was. [Verse 2] [Cmaj9] I didn't hear the words, [Am9] I breathed them instead [Fmaj7] Through the bright spring where peonies bloom [D7] Rebirthing a joy , [Fm7] illuminating cheeks [Bridge- Sudden beautiful modulation, shifting time signatures] [Abmaj7] Half a century divided now. [Dbmaj7] Between nine and ten incurable epistles. [Bmaj7] But in the light filtered through branches, [Emaj7] I swallowed the full moon to make it last. [Am9] Hidden under stones, [G7sus4] renewed in the river. [Instrumental Solo] [The music builds, mixing western classical strings with a soaring dialogue between piano and clarinet] [Chorus] [Cmaj7] A bleached canvas of words gushing from the crests! [Am9] Gathered deep inside of me. [Fmaj7] My days are pages caught in fragile clips, [D7] But they won't scatter on the long way home! [Fm7] Because I breathed, [Cmaj9] therefore I was. [Outro: Delicate, sparkling dynamic drop, leaving a feeling of absolute wonder] [Fmaj7] Through leaves... and flowers... [Fm7] Through the blinding light of many suns... [Am9] While I remembered.... [Cmaj9] I breathe, therefore I am. [End: Resonant, unresolved chord fades out into silence]
