Left You First - Ava Riot [orchestral version]
[Intro – 8 bars, Faint, trembling glass harmonica and distant cello harmonic sustain] (whispered, barely audible, right next to the mic): “I’m already gone… you just haven’t noticed yet.” [Verse 1 - Solitary pizzicato violin, soft felt piano chords bleeding beneath, low flute breath] I packed my scars in the trunk of the night You were still asleep with your ego and knife Thought you’d wake up swinging, thought you’d draw first blood But the joke’s on you, baby — I beat you to the punch [Pre-Chorus - Gentle string swell, delicate harp arpeggios, single French horn holding a warm, mournful note] You always said I’d never leave Funny what you believe, but little boy i hold the keys [Chorus – Ethereal surge, Layered opera-soprano echoes, wide chamber strings, subtle timpani heartbeats] So what if I left you first? Left before you could do your worst What if you were the one left behind? Left to deal with the battles in your mind Were you good enough for me? (hollow vocal echo: no...) Did you deserve this? (haunting choir: yes...) Were you the monster I said? (Is it all in my head?) Or just a victim instead? So what if I left you first Before you could do your worst [Post-Chorus - High, crying solo violin counter-melody, cello sliding down softly, breathy vocal phrase] I... left... you... first... (echoes fading into vast reverb) [Verse 2 - Muted solo viola, sparse bassoon tones, dark piano bass notes resonating] Your texts light up like landmines in my phone I laugh and hit archive, you’re finally alone Keep telling your friends I’m the villain, that’s fine I wrote the last chapter and I signed it “goodbye” [Pre-Chorus 2 - Cold celeste/glockenspiel notes like falling glass, subtle choir pad] I don’t need your ghost in my passenger seat I torched the rear-view, now the road tastes sweet [Chorus – Bittersweet & Melancholic, Full chamber ensemble swelling into a sweeping, tragic minor key wave] So what if I left you first? Left before you could do your worst What if you were the one left behind? Left to deal with the battles in your mind Were you good enough for me? (NO!) Did you deserve this? (YES!) Were you the monster I said? (Is it all in my head?) Or just a victim instead? So what if I left you first Before you could do your worst [Bridge – Ethereal Breakdown, Slow 3/4 waltz feel, distant solo English horn, weeping cello quartet] You thought you broke me But I broke the chain You thought you’d own me Now you’re screaming my name [Music drops out completely — only a single lingering cello harmonic] I was never yours to ruin [Final Chorus – Quiet Catharsis, Soft piano lead with soaring, ethereal full string section, ambient choir] So what if I left you first? Left before you could do your worst I’m not the one bleeding on the floor tonight I took back my life in the blink of a taillight Were you good enough for me? (soft choir whisper: fuck no...) Did you deserve this? (whisper: hell yes...) You’re the monster, I’m free — no regrets So what if I left you first I left you first I LEFT YOU FIRST! [Outro – Reverb-drenched harp and soft violin pad drifting into silence] (soft, sad sigh, spoken slowly and clearly into the space) “Keys are on the table. Door’s locked from the outside. Don't look for me. I don't want to be found." (Single piano key rings out into complete silence)
