Beautiful Breakdown [NDC TT]

[Intro — sparse, atmospheric Gothic Rock; clean tremolo guitar, deep bass, distant organ, slow toms. Male vocal enters almost as a whisper.] Come closer, catastrophe, You always know what’s best for me. I wore my calm like Sunday clothes, But underneath, the fever grows. [Verse 1 — restrained drums and chiming guitar; intimate, controlled vocal.] I learned to smile with broken teeth, To hide the wolves beneath my sleeve. I kept the windows painted black, So no one saw what I lacked. The mirror asks me who I am, I give it back a different man. A little grace, a little shame, A little gasoline for the flame. [Pre-Chorus — bass grows heavier; drums build; vocal becomes more urgent.] And if I’m falling, Let me fall beautifully. If I am burning, Let the fire remember me. [Chorus — huge Gothic Rock guitars, pounding drums, soaring emotional vocal.] This is my beautiful breakdown, My holy little hurricane. Tear every cathedral down, Let every bell ring my name. I’ve got a heart full of gasoline, And a mouth full of gasoline prayers. If I must disappear tonight, I’ll leave my shadow standing there. [Verse 2 — driving bass, heavier guitar; vocal more raw, increasingly unstable.] I kissed the hand that pulled the thread, I made a lover of my dread. She wore my sorrow like perfume, And danced with me around the room. I said, “Don’t leave me, stay awhile,” She answered only with a smile. Then every picture hit the floor, And I could not remember what they were for. [Pre-Chorus — guitars widen, drums accelerate slightly.] So if I’m breaking, Let me break spectacularly. If I am drowning, Let the ocean sing for me. [Chorus — larger than before; layered vocals, distorted guitar accents.] This is my beautiful breakdown, My holy little hurricane. Tear every cathedral down, Let every bell ring my name. I’ve got a heart full of gasoline, And a mouth full of gasoline prayers. If I must disappear tonight, I’ll leave my shadow standing there. [Post-Chorus — instrumental surge; wordless “Ahh—ahh—ahh” vocals, ringing guitar chords and pounding toms.] Ahh—ahh—ahh... Beautiful... Beautiful... [Short pause — one breath of silence.] So let it come. [Breakdown — explosive entrance; distorted guitars, crashing cymbals, massive drums. Vocal becomes a desperate near-shout.] LET IT COME! LET IT COME! I have nothing left to hide! LET IT COME! LET IT COME! I have nothing left inside! If this is madness, Then crown me tonight! If this is ruin, Then make it divine! [Final Chorus — maximum intensity; soaring lead vocal, stacked harmonies, huge guitars and organ.] This is my beautiful breakdown, My holy little hurricane! Tear every cathedral down, Let every bell scream out my name! I’ve got a heart full of gasoline, And a mouth full of gasoline prayers. I will not beg to be rescued now— I’ll make a kingdom from the wreckage there! [Final Refrain — instruments continue at full force; repeated vocal hook becomes increasingly desperate.] This is my beautiful breakdown! This is the end of pretending! If I am falling, I’m falling alive! Beautiful breakdown Come closer, catastrophe— You always belonged to me! [Single guitar note rings out. Silence.]