[Intro – heavy outlaw groove – thick bass forward and physical – dark electric guitar minimal riff – amplified Chicago blues harp present and raw – drums steady with deep kick presence – large room – unpolished] Rain gathers in the cut of my name Cold stone holding what’s left to claim A boy with my blood reads letters out loud But he don’t know the man beneath that ground [Chicago blues harp forward – gritty amplified tone – guitar backing rhythm only – bass steady] Wind moves quiet through the grass No one stays they just walk past Footsteps fade down a gravel line And all that’s left is carved in time [Groove steady – bass thick – harp active lead phrases – drums deeper kick – guitar restrained rhythm] I’ve seen how voices lose their weight How stories shrink when told too late How even love can wear thin When the room forgets the sound you’ve been [Chorus – heavy groove – bass strong – drums hitting hard – harp sustained lead phrases – guitar supporting] A man meets the earth in time He’s gone when the silence wins Leave a mark they can’t erase Let it outlive the skin The dirt will take what it’s owed The years will wear you thin A man meets the earth in time But he’s lost when the hush sets in [Chicago Blues Harp Solo – overdriven amplified tone – desperate sustained wails – aggressive bends – almost breaking notes – dominant lead – bass digging deeper – drums heavy backbeat and chest hitting kick – guitar minimal backing only] [Instrumental Groove – drums pounding – bass thick and physical – harp low growls and short stabs – no vocal] [Chicago Blues Harp Solo – powerful return – louder and rawer – sustained emotional cries – overblown bends – full melodic control – drums hitting hard – bass vibrating low end – guitar restrained rhythm] Picture frame on a crooked nail Color fading edges pale A laugh once loud now barely told A memory traded worn and old [Groove heavier – bass forward – drums stronger snare – harp weaving – guitar rhythm only] My name said softer year by year Like it don’t quite belong in here Dates stay sharp in black and white But the fire behind them slips from sight [Second Chorus – heavy – grounded – drums hitting hard – bass thick – harp dominant – guitar secondary] A man meets the earth in time He’s gone when the silence wins Leave a mark they can’t erase Let it outlive the skin The dirt will take what it’s owed The years will wear us thin A man meets the earth in time But he’s lost when the hush sets in [Guitar Solo – long – emotionally unstable – rough phrasing – imperfect bends – slight feedback – drums pounding – bass steady – harp backing only] Someday a child with my eyes Will hear my name in passing lines Told in pieces half and slow Like something distant long ago If my boots still leave a print in somebody’s mind If a word I spoke still bends the line If the weight I carried shapes their way Then maybe I don’t fade away [Final Chorus – full groove – bass forward and physical – drums chest hitting – harp strong and raw – not triumphant] I’ll meet the earth in time But I won’t let the silence win I’ll leave a mark they can’t erase Let it outlive my skin The dirt can take these bones The years can wear me thin I’ll meet the earth in time… [Outro – bass sustained low and vibrating – harp lingering broken wail – guitar minor chord – drums fade – unresolved] But when the last voice fades… Will I still live within?
