Quiet House

Alternative hip-hop with atmospheric neo-R&B production, intimate low-register female conversational rap with close-mic natural pauses and understated humor, airy harmonized chorus, dusty electric piano, mellow electric bass, soft swung drums, gentle guitar harmonics, 84–88 BPM relaxed pocket, sparse household ambience and warm analog tape texture; stripped third verse, Rhodes piano bridge, warm layered final chorus

[Intro — soft electric piano, distant door closing, warm analog hiss]

Everybody's gone?

...

Everybody?

Oh, thank fuck.

[Verse 1 — relaxed conversational rap, sparse drums]

Shoes kicked off by the living room chair,
Got the whole damn evening and nobody here.
No questions, no shouting, no "where's my phone?"
No somebody asking what I'm doing alone.

Got the remote, got the good spot,
Got a little bit of something I forgot I bought.
Put my feet on the table, nobody complains,
Let the television play something absolutely strange.

I can hear the clock ticking from the other room,
Didn't even know that thing still worked in June.
Fridge kicks on, old pipes knock twice,
House got a soundtrack when the people ain't inside.

And I like it.

Yeah, I actually do.

Nobody needs me for an hour or two.
I'm taking my time, got nowhere to be,
Got a whole lotta nothing scheduled for me.

[Chorus — soft melodic rap, floating harmonies]

Quiet house, low lights,
Got the whole place to myself tonight.
No footsteps running down the stairs,
No somebody shouting, "You still there?"

I'm good right here,
Let the evening roll.
Funny how the silence
Got a sound of its own.

Quiet house, slow time,
Everything's exactly how I like.

...Mostly.

[Verse 2 — subtle rhythmic bounce, warmer bass]

Made a little dinner, only needed one plate,
Still reached for another—habit, I guess.
Put it back, shook my head, had a laugh,
Apparently my hands ain't adjusted to that.

Started watching something, heard a stupid line,
Turned to make a comment to somebody beside—

Nobody.

Right.

Okay.

Guess that joke's going straight to the grave.

Got halfway through a movie, paused it for no reason,
Waited for a voice that usually starts complaining.
Nobody asking questions about every little scene,
Nobody stealing half the blanket off of me.

And that's nice.

Seriously.

Got the whole thing wrapped around my knees.

But I left the other half where it usually goes.

Didn't even notice.

Huh.

There you go.

[Pre-Chorus — keys widen, drums soften]

I spent all week saying,
"Can I get some peace?"

Now I'm sitting in it,
And it feels pretty sweet.

Just a little unfamiliar,
Like a song with something missing.

Still sounds good.

I'm just listening.

[Chorus — gentle harmonies]

Quiet house, low lights,
Got the whole place to myself tonight.
No footsteps running down the stairs,
No somebody shouting, "You still there?"

I'm good right here,
Let the evening roll.
Funny how the silence
Got a sound of its own.

Quiet house, slow time,
Everything's exactly how I like.

...Mostly.

[Verse 3 — intimate storytelling rap, minimal production]

Found a book I started back in May,
Read about a chapter, put the damn thing away.
Made some tea, let it cool by the lamp,
Watched the headlights moving slowly past the glass.

Didn't need a conversation,
Didn't need to fill the space.
Didn't need somebody coming through
To put a smile back on my face.

I was happy.

That's the thing.

Had a little room to hear myself think.

But then I found a sock beneath the chair,
Held it up like, "How the fuck'd that get there?"

Started laughing.

Couldn't even tell you whose.

Everybody in this house owns identical shoes.

Took a picture, sent it to the chat,
"Whoever owns this, you ain't getting it back."

Three replies before I put my phone away.

One said, "That's mine."

Two said, "No, it ain't."

And somebody sent a picture of a frog.

...

I'm not asking.

[Bridge — drums disappear, warm Rhodes and soft guitar]

I like my own company.
I like a little space.

Like hearing nothing moving
When I finally end the day.

But I like knowing somewhere
There's a whole lotta noise

That'll find its way back here
With all my favorite voices.

And I can miss 'em
Without wishing the evening away.

I'll enjoy the quiet.

They'll be back someday.

Probably in twenty minutes.

[Final Chorus — warm bass returns, soft layered vocals]

Quiet house, low lights,
Got the whole place to myself tonight.
No footsteps running down the stairs,
No somebody shouting, "You still there?"

I'm good right here,
Let the evening roll.
Funny how the silence
Got a sound of its own.

Quiet house, slow time,
Everything's exactly how I like.

And when the noise comes back—

That'll be nice.

[Outro — keys fade, distant car doors outside]

...

Oh, they're home.

[Keys jingling at the front door]

"RANALA! YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE—"

Oh my fucking God.

[Small laugh]

Yeah.

Come tell me.

4461/7500

[Intro — soft electric piano, distant door closing, warm analog hiss] Everybody's gone? ... Everybody? Oh, thank fuck. [Verse 1 — relaxed conversational rap, sparse drums] Shoes kicked off by the living room chair, Got the whole damn evening and nobody here. No questions, no shouting, no "where's my phone?" No somebody asking what I'm doing alone. Got the remote, got the good spot, Got a little bit of something I forgot I bought. Put my feet on the table, nobody complains, Let the television play something absolutely strange. I can hear the clock ticking from the other room, Didn't even know that thing still worked in June. Fridge kicks on, old pipes knock twice, House got a soundtrack when the people ain't inside. And I like it. Yeah, I actually do. Nobody needs me for an hour or two. I'm taking my time, got nowhere to be, Got a whole lotta nothing scheduled for me. [Chorus — soft melodic rap, floating harmonies] Quiet house, low lights, Got the whole place to myself tonight. No footsteps running down the stairs, No somebody shouting, "You still there?" I'm good right here, Let the evening roll. Funny how the silence Got a sound of its own. Quiet house, slow time, Everything's exactly how I like. ...Mostly. [Verse 2 — subtle rhythmic bounce, warmer bass] Made a little dinner, only needed one plate, Still reached for another—habit, I guess. Put it back, shook my head, had a laugh, Apparently my hands ain't adjusted to that. Started watching something, heard a stupid line, Turned to make a comment to somebody beside— Nobody. Right. Okay. Guess that joke's going straight to the grave. Got halfway through a movie, paused it for no reason, Waited for a voice that usually starts complaining. Nobody asking questions about every little scene, Nobody stealing half the blanket off of me. And that's nice. Seriously. Got the whole thing wrapped around my knees. But I left the other half where it usually goes. Didn't even notice. Huh. There you go. [Pre-Chorus — keys widen, drums soften] I spent all week saying, "Can I get some peace?" Now I'm sitting in it, And it feels pretty sweet. Just a little unfamiliar, Like a song with something missing. Still sounds good. I'm just listening. [Chorus — gentle harmonies] Quiet house, low lights, Got the whole place to myself tonight. No footsteps running down the stairs, No somebody shouting, "You still there?" I'm good right here, Let the evening roll. Funny how the silence Got a sound of its own. Quiet house, slow time, Everything's exactly how I like. ...Mostly. [Verse 3 — intimate storytelling rap, minimal production] Found a book I started back in May, Read about a chapter, put the damn thing away. Made some tea, let it cool by the lamp, Watched the headlights moving slowly past the glass. Didn't need a conversation, Didn't need to fill the space. Didn't need somebody coming through To put a smile back on my face. I was happy. That's the thing. Had a little room to hear myself think. But then I found a sock beneath the chair, Held it up like, "How the fuck'd that get there?" Started laughing. Couldn't even tell you whose. Everybody in this house owns identical shoes. Took a picture, sent it to the chat, "Whoever owns this, you ain't getting it back." Three replies before I put my phone away. One said, "That's mine." Two said, "No, it ain't." And somebody sent a picture of a frog. ... I'm not asking. [Bridge — drums disappear, warm Rhodes and soft guitar] I like my own company. I like a little space. Like hearing nothing moving When I finally end the day. But I like knowing somewhere There's a whole lotta noise That'll find its way back here With all my favorite voices. And I can miss 'em Without wishing the evening away. I'll enjoy the quiet. They'll be back someday. Probably in twenty minutes. [Final Chorus — warm bass returns, soft layered vocals] Quiet house, low lights, Got the whole place to myself tonight. No footsteps running down the stairs, No somebody shouting, "You still there?" I'm good right here, Let the evening roll. Funny how the silence Got a sound of its own. Quiet house, slow time, Everything's exactly how I like. And when the noise comes back— That'll be nice. [Outro — keys fade, distant car doors outside] ... Oh, they're home. [Keys jingling at the front door] "RANALA! YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE—" Oh my fucking God. [Small laugh] Yeah. Come tell me.

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