[Intro | sparse felted piano, slow steady pulse, hushed close male vocal, night-quiet] Last September, eleven forty-seven: a blurry photo. No caption. Fourteen hearts. "Home now — love you all" Fourteen hearts. [Verse 1 | fast half-spoken male vocal, short clipped percussive phrases, tight piano pulse, punchy drums, building energy] "June fourteenth." Seen by thirteen. Three dots… three dots… "Yes" "Yes yes YES" Thumbs up. "I'm crying" "Who's booking" — "On it" "Same place?" "Gotta see if grandma takes the kids" "Someone grab me at the station?" "NO ONE STARTS WITHOUT ME" "What station" — "The usual one, keep up" "I've got news" — "SAY IT" — "At the party" "Grandma says yes" Thumbs up. "This thread, my god" "Same place." — "Always." [Chorus 1 | call and response, intense male lead asks, tight group of friends answers in unison, room-sized gang vocals, hard-hitting drums] Who sleeps with one eye on the thread? WE DO — WE WAKE, WE WATCH, WE CARE! Who's dressed before the rest have read? WE DO — ONE PING, WE'RE HALFWAY THERE! WE SHOW UP AS WE ARE, WE SHOW UP FAST FIRST ONE IN AND THE LAST TO LEAVE — WE LAST! [Verse 2 | fast half-spoken male vocal, short clipped percussive phrases, groove locked, playful energy] Poll: Friday or Saturday. "Friday" — "Friday" — "FRIDAY" Thumbs up. "The list is the list: ice, limes, the speaker, the flag" "Who dropped nine songs in at three A.M." — "Couldn't sleep. You're welcome" "Might sit this year out" "No" "No." "We've got a bed for you" — "Couch counts too" "I'll drive you there myself" "Ok. Ok. I'm in" "Booked. Friday, nine" "Jonas hasn't voted" — "Jonas never votes" "Same table?" — "Asked for the wobbly one" Thumbs up. "This list hasn't changed in nine years" "Why would it" [Chorus 2 | call and response, intense male lead asks, tight group of friends answers in unison, room-sized gang vocals, hard-hitting drums] Who hears the "no" I never wrote? WE DO — WE WAKE, WE WATCH, WE CARE! Who shows up with an open coat? WE DO — ONE PING, WE'RE HALFWAY THERE! WE SHOW UP AS WE ARE, WE SHOW UP FAST FIRST ONE IN AND THE LAST TO LEAVE — WE LAST! [Bridge | accelerating build, driving tight drums, rising intensity, urgent vocal] "Leaving now" "Leaving now" — "Just left" "I see you on the map" "Three dots moving down the same road" "Why'd you stop at the gas station" — "Smokes and gum. Relax" "Grabbing Jonas at the station" — "He's already there" "Running late" — "We know" — "I KNOW YOU KNOW" "I can see the sign" "I can see the table" "Put the phone away —" [Final Chorus | explosive, tight group of friends at full voice, unison gang vocals, biggest moment, hard-hitting drums] Who's got my song before I choose? WE DO — WE WAKE, WE WATCH, WE CARE! Who did I run to with my news? WE DO — ONE PING, WE'RE HALFWAY THERE! WE SHOW UP AS WE ARE, WE SHOW UP FAST FIRST ONE IN AND THE LAST TO LEAVE — WE LAST! Who's still singing when the lights come up? WE DO — WE WAKE, WE WATCH, WE CARE! Who almost stayed — and who showed up? WE DO — ONE PING, WE'RE HALFWAY THERE! WE SHOW UP AS WE ARE, WE SHOW UP FAST FIRST ONE IN AND THE LAST TO LEAVE — WE LAST! WE LAST! WE LAST! FIRST ONE IN AND THE LAST TO LEAVE — WE LAST! [Coda | sparse piano returns, tired warm male vocal, morning light, fading] Oh-three-twelve: photo. photo. photo. Forty-one new photos: somebody's shoes. somebody crying laughing. the flag. "Same time next year?" Three dots… three dots… "Home now — love you all" Fourteen hearts. [End]
