[Intro - Both, sung, low-guitar pickup] One hell of a night For a "just stop by." [Verse 1 - Male solo, driving Southern rap] I had one boot off when the group chat lit the phone. You said, "Tell 'em we love 'em. We ain't leaving home." Then a picture of two empty chairs: "We saved 'em here for you." You slid your shoes back on. "All right, an hour or two." We picked up a bag of ice; got caught coming through the gate— A friend took it with a one-arm hug: "Look who finally came." Somebody started telling one we'd all already heard; Got laughing at his own joke—couldn't get out another word. [Pre-Chorus - Female solo, sung] I know you didn't feel like coming. I didn't either—look at us. You got that laugh back in your chest. Go on, let the whole thing out. [Chorus - Both, sung] One hell of a night For a "just stop by." An hour turned to two, Then we quit watching time. Somebody made room; Somebody made us laugh. One hell of a night— Man, we needed that. [Verse 2 - Female solo, confident Southern rap] Somebody holds a phone up; we lean into the frame. Your shoulder blocks the lens, so everybody leans again. Two fingers up behind your head—your buddy hasn't changed. You turn around to catch him; now he's doing it to me. We laugh before the flash goes off; the picture's mostly teeth. I'm bent in half beside you, barely staying on my feet. I'd rather keep the crooked one than stop to get it right; Everybody made it in, and that's the part I like. [Pre-Chorus - Male solo, sung] I haven't seen you laugh that hard In longer than I'd like. Come stand here in the middle— There's still room on my right. [Chorus - Both, sung] One hell of a night For a "just stop by." An hour turned to two, Then we quit watching time. Somebody made room; Somebody made us laugh. One hell of a night— Man, we needed that. [Instrumental - 16 bars] [Develop the low-guitar motif into a wider slide-guitar answer. Let bass and drums carry a clear, driving country-rap pocket. A short drum stop opens the next exchange.] [Verse 3A - Male solo, rhythmic Southern rap] I ask when we last did this; no one wants to count. It takes us half a story just to work the month out. We keep saying we should do it; then the weeks keep moving fast. I look around: "Next time, don't let me take a pass." [Verse 3B - Female solo, rhythmic Southern rap] Don't pin it all on him now. I had my shoes off first. You raise your hand, plead guilty; I put my hand up too. We slide our chairs a little, let another couple in. They say they're "just stopping by." Here we go again. [Bridge - Male solo, half-time, sung] Here's to whoever saved two chairs. [Bridge - Female solo, sung answer] Here's to the fool who made us laugh. [Bridge - Both, sung, building] Make a little more room beside us. They might need a night like that. [Final Chorus - Both, full sung harmony, guitars and drums lift] One hell of a night For a "just stop by." An hour turned to two, Then we quit watching time. Somebody made room; Somebody made us laugh. One hell of a night— Man, we needed that. [Outro - Female solo, sung] Look what we almost missed. [Outro - Male solo, sung answer] Glad you saved us a chair. [Outro - Both, sung] One hell of a night. Glad we were there. [Ending - 4 bars, the main riff resolves once, then a decisive band stop]
