Tainted Ecstasy [Intro — 8 bars — atmospheric trance + talk-box motif] Friday night, blue light, sweat on the floor Bass in the chest, crowd packed to the door Candy in a palm, little pill, little grin Nobody clocked what was folded within [Verse — 16 bars — steady rap pocket] One hit in and the timeline stalls Cold tile shock and a ring of calls Phones in a circle, faces gone pale Music still running but the air feels frail Street sells shine in a glitter disguise Pretty little promise with predator eyes Fast fake rush in a neon flash One wrong mix and your future’s ash Heartbeat racing but the rhythm slips Shadow in the powder on painted lips Everybody dancing on borrowed breath Tiny white spark with a whisper of death [Talk-box Solo — 8 bars — melodic answer] [Pre-Chorus — 8 bars — rap] Every deal on the street got a hidden seam Every bright little pill ain’t what it seems [Chorus — 16 bars — hook rap] Tainted ecstasy, soft to the taste Quick bright rush then a permanent waste Tainted ecstasy, sweet little lie Touch that spark and you gamble your life Tainted ecstasy running the room Silver shine hiding chemical doom Tainted ecstasy — hear it clear One wrong night and you disappear [Instrumental Break — 8 bars — surf guitar cut] [Verse — 16 bars — tighter rap] Mama in the hall with a frame in hand Same old picture from a safer land Friends still texting like she’s late, not gone Silence cuts hard when the truth comes on Dealer say chill, say it’s part of the game But the city keeps carving another name Weekend glow with a lethal bend Party don’t stop but the stories end Crowd still moving but the mood turns cold Empty space where her laugh once rolled Bright young face in a faded scene Ghost in the flash of a broken dream [Memorial Roll Call — 8 bars — stripped beat] Emily from Dayton Marcus from Queens Tyler in Houston Jasmine, sixteen Ryan in Denver Luis in L.A. Too many voices fading away [Delta Slide Break — 8 bars — mournful guitar] [Bridge — 12 bars — reflective rap] Every breath that you pull is a fragile thread Every choice leaves a line to be read City keeps spinning but the truth stays tight Life’s a thin wire in the neon light [Final Chorus — 16 bars — lifted energy] Tainted ecstasy, warning sign Pretty little spark on a faulted line Tainted ecstasy — step aside Hold your pulse, keep your stride Tainted ecstasy — hear the cost Too many names already lost Tainted ecstasy — choose your way Walk out breathing another day [Outro — 8 bars — ambient fade] Say their names Remember the cost
