[Intro (Low, open-tuned DADGAD acoustic guitar, slow and earthy fingerpicking. A bowed upright bass groans softly beneath.] [Verse 1) There was fire in the timber There was whiskey on your breath We built an altar out of passion Loved each other half to death You had a hearth inside your chest, boy Burning wild and unconfined The only trouble was your embers Never stayed inside the line Now the canyon wind is rising Kicking ash across the floor And the ghost of your excuses Isn't welcome at my door. [Chorus] You had too much heat to keep at home— You had to spread the flame First time was a drunken slip The second was a shame Strike three, the timber’s gone You’re finally struck out I loved you fierce, I loved you blind, But that’s not what LOVE'S about I’m striking one last match To burn every bridge behind Watch the timbers fall to water Watch me leave you in your mind. [Verse 2] I was patient as the redwoods Gave you chances by the score Believed your crooked promises Standing weeping by the door You swore that I was sovereign That no other shared your bed While you left a trail of cinders Where an honest man would tread Well, my heart is not kindling And my ribs are not your grate You wanted all the world to warm— So go choke on your fate. [Chorus] You had too much heat to keep at home— You had to spread the flame First time was a drunken slip The second was a shame Strike three, the timber’s gone You’re finally struck out I loved you fierce, I loved you blind, but that’s not what LOVE'S about I’m striking one last match To burn every bridge behind Watch the timbers fall to wate Watch me leave you in your mind. [Bridge] [Rhythm steadies into a heavy, driving thrum; voice drops down into its lowest, smoky chest register] Listen to the canyon gorge Listen to the crack Hear the creaking of the trestle That will never bear me back No more tears to drown your sparks No more mercy in my blood Just the river rushing through the gorge Swallowing the flood. [Guitar Solo A plaintive, woody steel-string acoustic solo, bending deep notes over a swelling, warm organ swell] [Chorus] [Full vocal power, leaning hard into the wide, slow vibrato on the held notes] You had too much heat to keep at home— You had to spread the flame First time was a drunken slip The second was a shame Strike three, the timber’s gone You’re finally struck out I loved you fierce, I loved you blind, but that’s not what LOVE'S about I’m striking one last match To burn every bridge behind Watch the timbers fall to water Watch me leave you in your mind! [Outro (Music drops down to just a dry fingerpicked guitar and light upright bass pluck)] Strike one… forgive and weep Strike two… the cut was deep Strike three… the bridge is down You’re out, boy… and I’m leaving town. [Low, sustained contralto note fading out with a deep, slow vibrato)] Cold smoke… Nothing left to burn [Final acoustic chord rings out and decays into silence]
