[Intro: warm bass harmonics; soft room sound; dry drums enter] [Verse 1: rough male lead] The rope had left my fingers curled. You waited while I worked them loose. You opened up the paper sack. We ate there on the loading steps. [Warm female lead] The score was folded by the plates. I'd missed rehearsal once again. You dried the cups and turned the page. We found the place where I came in. [Chorus: small mixed ensemble; open guitars, generous melody] HOUSE LIGHTS. Let me see your face. Thank you for the care you gave In a hundred quiet ways. HOUSE LIGHTS. Let the back row shine. Tell me what you love these days. We can take our time. [Verse 2: low, unhurried lead] They read the death toll on the news. You asked me what my brother was like. I told you how he'd cheat at cards. We talked about him half the night. [Female lead: intimate; room between phrases] I left the final line unfinished. You set your headphones next to mine. We took our jackets from the doorway. We watched the shops turn out their lights. [Instrumental: one full bar of bass and drums] [Chorus: another voice leads; the ensemble joins naturally] HOUSE LIGHTS. Let me see your face. Thank you for the care you gave In a hundred quiet ways. HOUSE LIGHTS. Let the back row shine. Tell me what you love these days. We can take our time. [Bridge: bright female voice; bass and a few piano notes] You left a space inside the verse. I tried a note I'd never sung. You found a chord to sit beneath it. We liked the place the song had gone. [Male voice: warm, conversational] You put my name among the credits. I took your pen and fixed the spelling. You asked me for my favorite record. We stayed to hear the whole damn thing. [Final Chorus: all voices; full band, shared warmth] HOUSE LIGHTS. Let me see your face. Thank you for the care you gave In a hundred quiet ways. HOUSE LIGHTS. Let the back row shine. Tell me what you love these days. We can take our time. [Outro: two close voices; instruments settle] "What should we put on?" "I don't know yet." "Me neither." We leave the house lights on. [Instrumental: warm held chord; a little room sound remains]
