EVERYBODY’S INNOCENT [Intro — walking bass, brushed snare, playful Rhodes] [Spoken, dry amusement] Funny thing about the truth… Everybody’s got one. [Verse 1 — conversational, sly rhythmic phrasing] She said he started everything He swears she lit the match Both of them remember What the other can’t take back She’s telling all her girlfriends He’s telling all his friends Same old story, different sides And neither one will bend [Pre-Chorus — ascending melody, rising tension] A little bit of memory A little rearranged Funny how the facts get lost When feelings take the stage [Chorus — big melodic lift, punchy full groove] Everybody’s innocent Nobody’s to blame Everybody’s got a reason Everybody’s got a name For the one who did ‘em wrong For the one who crossed the line Everybody’s telling stories With the truth between the lines Oh, everybody’s innocent At least in their own mind [Verse 2 — playful, pointed, bass-driven] He calls it being honest She calls it being cruel He says he broke the silence She says he broke the rules The neighbor’s got an opinion The friends have picked a side Funny how the loudest voices Weren’t even there that night [Pre-Chorus — stronger melody, strings building] We polish up our motives We edit out the sting Put a halo on our choices And call it everything [Chorus — wider harmonies, full drums] Everybody’s innocent Nobody’s to blame Everybody’s got a reason Everybody’s got a name For the one who did ‘em wrong For the one who crossed the line Everybody’s telling stories With the truth between the lines Oh, everybody’s innocent At least in their own mind [Bridge — drums stop, intimate spoken-sung vocal] I used to think I saw it clear The guilty over there Till I caught myself rehearsing What I’d say if I were there [Half-time groove, vulnerable] I left out what I shouldn’t Made the ending suit my pride And suddenly I understood How easy truth can hide [Final Chorus — powerful soulful lift, layered harmonies] Everybody’s innocent Nobody’s to blame Everybody’s got a reason Everybody’s got a name We can point across the table We can swear we’re justified But everybody leaves a little Of themselves outside the lines Oh, everybody’s innocent At least in their own mind [Outro — stripped bass and Rhodes, knowing smile] [Spoken softly] Funny thing about the truth… [Pause] I had my version too. [Instrumental finish — short, warm bass resolution]
