[Intro] (Telephone receiver pickup, soft dial tone, quiet bedroom ambience) (Whispered / Spoken softly) Okay, version three... Just gonna tell him it's fine. No, that sounds fake. (Soft sigh) [Verse 1] Sitting on the edge of my twin bed frame Practicing the way that I say your name It’s three in the morning and the room is still I pick up the receiver like I got the will Dialling seven digits real slow and clear Trying to figure out what you wanna hear First I wanna laugh, act real light and cool Say I’m just calling like a casual fool Then I wanna ask why you didn't call back If you’re still at the studio mixing that track My palm gets sweaty and my chest feels tight As I wait for your machine in the middle of the night. [Pre-Chorus] 'Cause I got a question that's heavy on my tongue A simple little truth that I’m keeping unsung I'm scared if I ask you what we really are It'll push you away, push you too far. [Chorus] When the line goes silent and the tone rings through I'm standing on the edge of telling you the truth Gotta leave my voice on your digital tape Find a little courage that I can't escape I start to speak, then I hesitate 'Cause saying how I feel feels a little too late I'm holding my breath while the recorder creeps Trying to find the words... right after the beep. [Verse 2] I remember last Tuesday when you called at four Left a fifteen-second message saying nothing more Said "Hey shorty, hit me when you get a chance" Keeping it real easy with a cool-guy stance And when I called back, we just talked 'bout the beats Where we're gonna eat on the Atlanta streets We never mention what we did last night Or why you kissed my forehead under streetlight bright You keep it real warm, keep it real close But you dodge the topics that I need the most So I swallow my pride when the tone goes off And make my loud thoughts real small and soft. [Pre-Chorus] 'Cause I got a question that's heavy on my tongue A simple little truth that I’m keeping unsung I'm scared if I ask you what we really are It'll push you away, push you too far. [Chorus] When the line goes silent and the tone rings through I'm standing on the edge of telling you the truth Gotta leave my voice on your digital tape Find a little courage that I can't escape I start to speak, then I hesitate 'Cause saying how I feel feels a little too late I'm holding my breath while the recorder creeps Trying to find the words... right after the beep. [Bridge] (Drums and sub-bass drop out; warm Rhodes piano and intimate close-mic lead vocal) Marcus, I ain't trying to change your world I'm just trying to know if I'm really your girl Or if I'm just a comfort when the hours get long And you need a little sweet voice for your favorite song... I don't wanna play a part in a game I lose I just want a clear line that I can choose. [Final Chorus] (Full instrumentation returns with layered vocal harmonies and subtle ad-libs) When the line goes silent and the tone rings through (Line goes silent, yeah) I'm standing on the edge of telling you the truth Gotta leave my voice on your digital tape Find a little courage that I can't escape (Can't escape, no) I start to speak, then I hesitate 'Cause saying how I feel feels a little too late I'm holding my breath while the recorder creeps Trying to find the words... right after the beep. [Outro] (Beep tone sound effect) (Spoken softly) "Hey Marcus... it's me. Just calling to see if you got home safe. Talk to you tomorrow..." (Click sound of telephone hanging up) (Soft Rhodes piano chords fade out slowly)
