DON'T CALL IT LOVE [Intro — Deep hypnotic bass, dark minor-seventh Rhodes chords, distant smoky saxophone. No drums. Low intimate male spoken voice.] So what are we doing? [Pause] Nah, I'm serious. [Soft chuckle] You know what? Don't answer that. [Dusty hip-hop drums enter. Slow, heavy pocket. Muted electric guitar playing a haunting two-note melody.] [Verse 1 — Low-register conversational melodic rap, relaxed and seductive. Effortless, slightly raspy male voice.] You're in the kitchen wearing nothing but my shirt Talking 'bout you gotta leave, but you ain't moved yet Got your earrings by the sink, lipstick on my neck We keep saying it's whatever, but it ain't whatever yet You got your legs across my lap While you're telling me we're friends Funny how you say you don't get jealous Then you're asking where I've been And I ain't any better, baby I can play that game too I can tell you that I don't care While I'm looking right at you [Pre-Chorus — Soft soulful male singing, breathy delivery. Drums thin out, warm Rhodes and bass remain.] We don't say too much We don't make no promises But every time you leave You leave a little more than kisses And I know, I know We should probably slow it down But you keep pulling me closer Every time I turn around [Chorus — Hypnotic, repetitive, deeply melodic male hook. Strong low bass, restrained dusty drums, saxophone answering the ends of phrases.] Don't call it love (nah, nah) Don't call it love (no, no) You don't wanna be mine But you hate when I'm not yours Don't call it love (nah, nah) We both know what we're running from Keep on saying it's nothing, baby When it's getting to be too much Too much, too much We don't talk about us Too much, too much Baby, don't call it love [Instrumental — Eight bars of haunting muted electric guitar and deep rolling bass. Smoky tenor saxophone answers with a short descending phrase. No bright melodies.] [Verse 2 — Smooth melodic rap, flirtatious but increasingly emotionally invested. Laid-back rhythmic flow.] Somebody asked if we were something You said "no" a little fast Then you spent the whole damn evening With your fingers in my hand Your phone lit up, I looked away You caught me looking anyway Said, "You jealous?" I said, "Never" Kept my eyes on the lane Then you asked who kept on calling Like you hadn't done the same We both laugh and change the subject But I know you felt that sting Now we're back inside your bedroom Making peace without a word We can act like nothing happened But we both know that it hurt [Pre-Chorus — Low soulful singing. Slight vulnerability enters the vocal, restrained harmonies.] We don't say too much We don't make no promises But every time you leave You leave a little more than kisses And I know, I know We should probably slow it down But you keep pulling me closer Every time I turn around [Chorus — Full hypnotic bass groove, layered breathy harmonies, saxophone fills.] Don't call it love (nah, nah) Don't call it love (no, no) You don't wanna be mine But you hate when I'm not yours Don't call it love (nah, nah) We both know what we're running from Keep on saying it's nothing, baby When it's getting to be too much Too much, too much We don't talk about us Too much, too much Baby, don't call it love [Breakdown — All drums stop. Deep sub-bass pulse, faint Rhodes, extremely intimate spoken delivery.] You know what's funny? You keep telling me You don't wanna get attached. [Pause] But you don't ever let me leave. [Low breathy chuckle] And I don't really wanna go. [Bridge — Deep, slightly raspy soulful singing. Bare Rhodes chords, subtle melancholic saxophone. Vulnerable, almost confessional.] You fell asleep with your hand on my chest Like you were making sure I'd stay And I almost said those three little words But I swallowed the last one away Wasn't scared you wouldn't say 'em Wasn't scared you'd change your mind [Long pause] I was scared you'd say 'em back And I'd have something real to lose this time [Instrumental — Four bars of dark Rhodes, haunting saxophone, then deep bass and drums return.] [Final Chorus — Low, emotional, hypnotic male vocals. Slightly more vulnerable than earlier choruses but never dramatic. Restrained harmonies.] Don't call it love (nah, nah) Don't call it love (no, no) You don't wanna be mine But you hate when I'm not yours Don't call it love (nah, nah) We both know what we're running from Keep on saying it's nothing, baby When it's getting to be too much Too much, too much We don't talk about us Too much, too much Baby, don't call it love [Outro — Drums slowly disappear. Muted guitar melody, dark Rhodes, soft saxophone. Low intimate spoken male voice.] Hey... [Pause] You asleep? [Long silence] Never mind. [Very quiet, almost whispered] Goodnight, baby. [Final unresolved Rhodes chord. Saxophone fades into silence.] [End]
