[Theme: A bittersweet farewell – not from lack of love, but from life’s circumstances. The narrator must leave, but the love remains forever.] [Intro | A cappella, solo voice, close-miked, reverb tails] (No instruments. Just breath. Just voice.) (Whispered, then full) If I… should stay… I would only be in your way. (Piano enters – single soft chord) So I’ll go… but I know… I’ll think of you… each step of the way. [Verse 1 | Piano only, soft strings enter, breathy low register] And I will always love you I will always love you You, my darling you… hmmmmmm (Piano chord swell) [Verse 2 | Full verse, strings and light drums enter, vocal builds] Bittersweet memories That is all I’m taking with me So goodbye… please don’t cry We both know I’m not what you need (Soft drum fill) [Pre-Chorus | Building, vocal rises, choir hum underneath] But I will always love you I will always love you You… my darling you… [Chorus | Full gospel swell, belt, emotional peak] I HOPE LIFE TREATS YOU KINDLY AND I HOPE YOU HAVE ALL YOU DREAMED OF AND I WISH YOU JOY AND HAPPINESS BUT ABOVE ALL THIS… I WISH YOU LOVE (Pause – single heartbeat of silence) [Bridge | Stripped, then building again] And I… will always… love you… I… will always… love you… (Sustained note – “you” held) [Key Change | Up one whole step – euphoric, choir full] I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU (Backing choir: “Always… always…”) [Final Belt | A cappella again, then band crash] (Solo voice, no instruments) YOU… (Band explodes one chord – then silence) [Outro | Soft piano, whispered] I… will always… love you… (Single piano note, decay, silence)
