🩸 TRACK 9 — I’LL BLEED QUIET FOR YOU from the album I DON’T LEAVE Written by: 12 Gauge OPENING (BARE — SOLO VIOLA) (One fragile note. No drums. No guitar.) (near whisper) Yeah… VERSE 1 I don’t talk about what it costs me I don’t keep a list of wounds I learned how to smile through the damage So you don’t have to see it too I take the hit when it comes for us I don’t make a sound Some love bleeds loud for attention Mine bleeds underground (ad-libs, barely voiced) —mm… —I know —yeah… PRE-CHORUS I don’t need you to notice I don’t need the truth said twice I just need you standing steady While I pay the price (breath) Yeah… CHORUS (RESTRAINED — HEAVY) I’ll bleed quiet for you I don’t need the credit I’ll carry the weight If it keeps you steady I’ll bleed quiet for you No applause, no proof If this is what love costs I’ll pay it through (ad-libs, distant) —quiet —yeah… —I’ll take it VERSE 2 I’ve swallowed words that cut my throat Held back storms I couldn’t tame I’ve learned how to lose parts of myself Without calling it pain If loving you means I disappear In places you don’t go Then let me fade where it don’t show So you can still feel whole (spoken ad-libs) —yeah… —I know how —I’ll hold it PRE-CHORUS 2 (VARIATION) I don’t need you to save me I don’t need you to stay clean Just don’t ask me to walk away From what this means CHORUS (LIFTED — STILL RESTRAINED) I’ll bleed quiet for you Don’t ask me why Some love ain’t meant to be loud Just alive I’ll bleed quiet for you If that’s the truth I don’t need the world to see What I’ll do for you (ad-libs, cracked) —for you —yeah… —I’ll stay BRIDGE (CONFESSION — NEAR SPOKEN) (Music strips to solo cello.) If I ever break from this You won’t hear it happen I’ll just stand a little slower And keep on standing (voice tight) That’s the deal. (half-bar silence) FINAL CHORUS (LAST OFFER) I’ll bleed quiet for you Till there’s nothing left I won’t make a sound I won’t ask for help I’ll bleed quiet for you If this is what it proves That I loved you past the part Where love usually moves (ad-libs layered, emotional) —quiet… —yeah… —I’ll do it OUTRO (NO RESOLUTION) (soft, exhausted) You don’t owe me anything… (final whisper) —I already chose. (Strings decay. Track ends.) 🎙️ ACT III SPOKEN INTERLUDE (Placed immediately after Track 9) (Silence first. Then a low, calm voice.) Everybody talks about sacrifice like it’s a moment. But the real cost is the part nobody sees. It’s choosing to carry something you’ll never be thanked for… and not needing to be. (low strings enter — cellos only) This is where love stops proving and starts being. (Strings cut. Transition into Track 10.)
