That’s A Yes

1990s acid jazz blended with dusty breakbeat and sophisticated alternative soul, 104 BPM, Rolling chopped live drum loops, syncopated upright bass, warm Fender Rhodes electric piano, muted trumpet riffs, punchy tenor sax accents, Hammond organ flourishes, subtle vinyl crackle, tight syncopated percussion, expressive jazz guitar, One female lead vocalist only, velvety low-mid register, conversational melodic phrasing, sly dry humor, unforced confidence, rhythmic spoken interjections, soulful understated hooks, Cool cosmopolitan lounge energy that gradually turns into joyous rhythmic liberation, Organic groove, intricate jazz harmonies, playful brass stabs, elastic bass, delicious rhythmic pauses, No backing singers, no choir, no duet, no theatrical Broadway vocals, no orchestral soundtrack, no electroclash, no futuristic synth funk

[Intro — dry, close-mic spoken vocal, dusty drum loop]

“Well, we’ve reviewed your proposal.”

“Okay.”

“We’d like to move forward.”

“Okay.”

“At your quoted rate.”

“…Okay.”

[Brief silence]

“Are you still there?”

“Yes. Absolutely. Very professionally.”

[Beat drops]

[Verse 1]

I had a speech for every objection
A backup plan for every no
Had a discount in my pocket
I was ready to unload

Had a folder full of reasons
Why the number made good sense
Had a little nervous system
Already climbing up the fence

But they didn’t ask for cheaper
Didn’t need another pitch
Didn’t tell me they were thinking
Didn’t leave me in a ditch

They just said they’d like to book it
And confirmed the starting date
And my mouth went looking for a problem
That my brain could complicate

[Pre-Chorus — bass walks, drums pull back]

Ooh, I can feel it coming
That familiar little itch
To add three extra services
And never charge for it

But I catch it at the doorway
Before it gets outside

[Spoken]

“Thank you. I’m delighted.”

[Pause]

Look at me. Staying alive.

[Chorus — laid-back, irresistible groove]

That’s a yes
That’s a yes
Not a test I have to pass
Not a debt I must address

That’s a yes
Let it land
I can take a good thing
With both feet on the ground

No discount
No confession
No unnecessary
Extra concessions

That’s a yes
That’s a yes
They know the price
They read the terms
And nevertheless—

They said yes!

[Verse 2]

Now I’m sitting with the contract
And a very decent fee
And a voice says, “Better hurry,
Show them what a steal you’ll be.”

Maybe throw in Sunday morning
Maybe answer late at night
Maybe do a little extra
Just to prove they chose me right

But the numbers on the paper
Are the numbers we agreed
And the work inside the document
Is the work they actually need

So I close the laptop gently
Take my shoes off by the door
There is nothing I must sacrifice
To make the payment mean more

[Pre-Chorus — rhythmic, teasing]

I can do exceptional work
And still finish when I’m done
I can leave a little daylight
For a life outside this one

[Chorus]

That’s a yes
That’s a yes
Not a test I have to pass
Not a debt I must address

That’s a yes
Let it land
I can take a good thing
With both feet on the ground

No discount
No confession
No unnecessary
Extra concessions

That’s a yes
That’s a yes
They know the price
They read the terms
And nevertheless—

They said yes!

[Bridge — half-time, electric piano, intimate]

“Can you start on Monday?”

“Tuesday would work better.”

“That’s fine.”

“Would a deposit be possible?”

“Of course. Our standard is fifty percent.”

“…Oh.”

“Is there a problem?”

“No. That’s perfect. I’ll send the invoice.”

[Instrumental — bright brass riff over rolling breakbeat]

[Verse 3 — increasingly playful]

Now the money’s in the account
And the sky has not turned red
No committee at the window
No accountant under the bed

Nobody’s demanding penance
Nobody’s requesting pain
It’s a payment for a service
Not a lifetime ball and chain

I do the work, I meet the brief
I communicate, deliver
And I leave the meeting smiling
Without making myself smaller

[Final Chorus — exuberant, syncopated brass]

That’s a yes
That’s a yes
And I don’t have to turn
A blessing into stress

That’s a yes
Here I stand
A capable professional
With an actual business plan

No discount
No confession
No heroic unpaid
Demonstration

That’s a yes
That’s a yes
And I’m allowed to celebrate
Without inventing what’s next

[Outro — drums and bass only]

“Anything else you need from me?”

“No, I think we’re all set.”

“Wonderful. I’ll send the agreement.”

[Pause]

[Softly, to herself]

That went suspiciously well.

[Short brass flourish]

I could get used to this.

3700/7500

[Intro — dry, close-mic spoken vocal, dusty drum loop] “Well, we’ve reviewed your proposal.” “Okay.” “We’d like to move forward.” “Okay.” “At your quoted rate.” “…Okay.” [Brief silence] “Are you still there?” “Yes. Absolutely. Very professionally.” [Beat drops] [Verse 1] I had a speech for every objection A backup plan for every no Had a discount in my pocket I was ready to unload Had a folder full of reasons Why the number made good sense Had a little nervous system Already climbing up the fence But they didn’t ask for cheaper Didn’t need another pitch Didn’t tell me they were thinking Didn’t leave me in a ditch They just said they’d like to book it And confirmed the starting date And my mouth went looking for a problem That my brain could complicate [Pre-Chorus — bass walks, drums pull back] Ooh, I can feel it coming That familiar little itch To add three extra services And never charge for it But I catch it at the doorway Before it gets outside [Spoken] “Thank you. I’m delighted.” [Pause] Look at me. Staying alive. [Chorus — laid-back, irresistible groove] That’s a yes That’s a yes Not a test I have to pass Not a debt I must address That’s a yes Let it land I can take a good thing With both feet on the ground No discount No confession No unnecessary Extra concessions That’s a yes That’s a yes They know the price They read the terms And nevertheless— They said yes! [Verse 2] Now I’m sitting with the contract And a very decent fee And a voice says, “Better hurry, Show them what a steal you’ll be.” Maybe throw in Sunday morning Maybe answer late at night Maybe do a little extra Just to prove they chose me right But the numbers on the paper Are the numbers we agreed And the work inside the document Is the work they actually need So I close the laptop gently Take my shoes off by the door There is nothing I must sacrifice To make the payment mean more [Pre-Chorus — rhythmic, teasing] I can do exceptional work And still finish when I’m done I can leave a little daylight For a life outside this one [Chorus] That’s a yes That’s a yes Not a test I have to pass Not a debt I must address That’s a yes Let it land I can take a good thing With both feet on the ground No discount No confession No unnecessary Extra concessions That’s a yes That’s a yes They know the price They read the terms And nevertheless— They said yes! [Bridge — half-time, electric piano, intimate] “Can you start on Monday?” “Tuesday would work better.” “That’s fine.” “Would a deposit be possible?” “Of course. Our standard is fifty percent.” “…Oh.” “Is there a problem?” “No. That’s perfect. I’ll send the invoice.” [Instrumental — bright brass riff over rolling breakbeat] [Verse 3 — increasingly playful] Now the money’s in the account And the sky has not turned red No committee at the window No accountant under the bed Nobody’s demanding penance Nobody’s requesting pain It’s a payment for a service Not a lifetime ball and chain I do the work, I meet the brief I communicate, deliver And I leave the meeting smiling Without making myself smaller [Final Chorus — exuberant, syncopated brass] That’s a yes That’s a yes And I don’t have to turn A blessing into stress That’s a yes Here I stand A capable professional With an actual business plan No discount No confession No heroic unpaid Demonstration That’s a yes That’s a yes And I’m allowed to celebrate Without inventing what’s next [Outro — drums and bass only] “Anything else you need from me?” “No, I think we’re all set.” “Wonderful. I’ll send the agreement.” [Pause] [Softly, to herself] That went suspiciously well. [Short brass flourish] I could get used to this.

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