Stone-Faced in the City of Light
[HOOK 1 – immediate] [Voice: sly Southern melodic rap, amused] Stone-faced in the city of light, Gargoyles got opinions tonight. I played one chord— [beat] They said, “Absolutely not.” Stone-faced in the city of light, Paris got monsters with something to say. I came here to play my banjo— [Voice: dry mutter] —and got heckled by a gargoyle. [VERSE 1] [Voice: relaxed Southern storytelling] Sat on the rooftop, tuned my strings, Heard stone crack open and two big wings. Gargoyle looked down like I'd ruined his night, Pointed at my banjo like it owed him a fight. [Voice: gravelly imitation, annoyed] “Mon ami... That chord is terrible.” [Voice: dry Southern mutter] “Thank you.” [Voice: amused storytelling] Another one crawled up behind my chair, Claws on the stone and attitude everywhere. Stared at my fingers, stared at my face— [Voice: nervous whisper] “I feel like I'm being graded.” [Voice: deadpan] I was. [PRE-HOOK] [Voice: conversational, building amusement] Played a lick. [beat] They booed. [beat] Played it again. [beat] They booed harder. [Voice: confused] Then they moved closer. [beat] [Voice: realizing] Oh... [Voice: small grin] They hate it. [beat] [Voice: amused] They really, really hate it. [HOOK 2 – EVOLVED] [Voice: melodic, more confident] Stone-faced in the city of light, Gargoyles got opinions tonight. They hate my banjo— [beat] but they won't take flight. Stone-faced in the city of light, Every monster's got something to say. I thought I found a hostile crowd— [Voice: dry] —turns out that's just how they say “hey.” [VERSE 2] [Voice: faster, animated Southern rap] Lou Carcolh slid up, covered in slime, Looked at my banjo like I'd wasted his time. Big ol' snail-dragon, miserable face, Left a twenty-foot puddle all over the place. [Voice: disgusted mutter] “That's gonna stain.” [Voice: amused] Lutins came sprintin', little thieves in a pack, One stole my hat, one stole my snack. One stole my phone and took off down the street— [Voice: confused] “Hey! That's got my banking app!” [beat] [Voice: deadpan] He came back. [Voice: suspicious] He'd already changed my password. [PRE-HOOK 2] [Voice: amused storytelling] Every chord got criticized, Every lick got analyzed. Then the moon came up... [beat] [Voice: softer] ...and nobody left. [Voice: warm realization] They weren't waiting for me to quit. [Voice: grin] They were waiting for the next song. [HOOK 3 – EVOLVED] [Voice: confident melodic rap] Stone-faced in the city of light, Now they're all hangin' around tonight. Gargoyle left, goblin right, Big slime snail underneath the lights. [Voice: playful melodic delivery] Stone-faced in the city of light, They roast my songs but stay all night. I thought they hated every note I played— [Voice: dry Southern mutter] —turns out they just hate everything. [BRIDGE] [Voice: quiet, sincere] If a gargoyle throws shade... [beat] [Voice: soft smile] That's probably love. [beat] [Voice: thoughtful] If a goblin steals your hat... [beat] [Voice: dry] That's probably theft. [beat] [Voice: warm] Sometimes bein' welcomed don't look like bein' welcomed. Sometimes it looks like monsters making fun of you... [Voice: gentle] ...until you stop feeling like a stranger. [FINAL HOOK – EVOLVED AGAIN] [Voice: warm, joyful melodic rap] Stone-faced in the city of light, Gargoyles dancing underneath moonlight. Banjo ringing, monsters packed tight, Paris never looked so strange and right. [Voice: playful] Stone-faced in the city of light, Now they're asking me to play all night. I came here thinkin' I was outta place— [Voice: horrified whisper] —then a gargoyle kissed me on the face. [beat] [Voice: stunned Southern mutter] ...We ain't there yet. [OUTRO] [FX: accordion fading, stone wings folding, tiny footsteps] [Voice: sleepy Southern mutter] They still hate my banjo. [beat] [Voice: amused whisper] But they saved me a seat. [beat] [Voice: tiny laugh] Paris is weird. [beat] [Voice: warm] I kinda like it. [FX: banjo lick → distant gargoyle chuckle → accordion button click → fade]
