BELOW REST Scoot Bonobos — Force Fed [Intro — headphones click; a calm voice] “That was good. There’s room for another line.” [Low guitar pulse] [Verse 1 — close, conversational] Red light over the little window. Water leaving rings on the floor. You played the ending back through the speakers. I leaned in close to hear it once more. I liked the way the last word landed. You liked the space that followed it. I heard a place to take a breath. You heard a place that something fits. [Pre-Chorus — the riff opens] “A little longer.” I gave it a try. “You’ve still got something.” You weren’t telling a lie. [Chorus — broad and heavy] BELOW REST. STILL SOMETHING LEFT. You heard the note. Did you hear the breath? BELOW REST. A LITTLE MORE. I gave you what was left. You asked what I kept it for. [Verse 2 — tighter; guitars begin answering between lines] We put a harmony in the opening. A little answer underneath. You brought the guitar across the ending. It sounded good. I had to agree. We kept the take where I came in early. Kept the one where I finished late. You joined the strongest parts together. I listened to the thing we made. Then you said, “Let’s do it through.” [Short instrumental — the assembled riff keeps moving] [Pre-Chorus — clipped] I knew the words. I knew the tune. Every piece was mine. I couldn’t find the room. [Chorus] BELOW REST. STILL SOMETHING LEFT. You heard the note. Did you hear the breath? BELOW REST. A LITTLE MORE. I gave you what was left. You asked what I kept it for. [Verse 3 — irritation held close] I asked you for a bigger chorus. Asked you for a harder hit. I pointed at the quiet places. Said, “Can we do something with this?” Now every space had someone in it. Most of them were me. I took one ear out of the headphones. Heard how hard I had to breathe. [Bridge — bass and a dry kick; two voices] “It sounds like you’re holding back.” “I am.” “Is something wrong?” “No. I need that bit.” “For what?” [Lead] “The next line.” [Producer] “We can take it separately.” [Lead — quieter] “I want to sing the song.” [Full stop; one natural breath] [Final Chorus — heavy return, open spaces between phrases] BELOW REST. STILL SOMETHING LEFT. You heard the note. Did you hear the breath? BELOW REST. A LITTLE MORE. I gave you what was left. You asked what I kept it for. [Post-Chorus — melodic, strained but clear] I CAN GIVE YOU MORE. [Space] That doesn’t mean I can give it twice. I CAN GIVE YOU MORE. [Space] Leave me somewhere To come back in. [Outro — instruments drop away] “Did you stop?” “Yeah.” “Was that the ending?” [An audible breath] “No.” [Cut]
