[Time Signature: 5/4] [Tempo: 88 BPM] [Intro: fingerstyle electric guitar alone, no pick, warm woody tone] [Key: D Minor] [Verse 1: isolated upfront dry vocal, minimal bass, guitar close] Sit down, take the cup, hold it with both hands Look at me when I talk — no, not like that You want the short version, I know, I know The short version is longer than you think First thing: don't fill the silence when it comes Let it sit, let it breathe, let it look back at you [Key: D Minor] [Verse 2: brushed drums enter, upright bass walks, vocal still upfront] Second thing: when you walk in, walk in last Let the room turn first, let them wonder where you've been Don't tell the story twice — once is a gift Twice is a receipt, and they'll know what you're buying Third thing: when you laugh, laugh a half-second late That half-second is the whole thing, that's the whole trick [Key: D Minor] [Pre-Chorus: guitar opens, bass holds, drums thin out] And I've been doing this so long I forget which part is the lesson Which part is the wound Which part I'm still paying for [Key: Bb Major] [Chorus: full band enters, drums steady 5/4, vocal staccato, each word separate] This is my ad vice Take it, it's free This is my ad vice You'll see what I mean I give it away And I take it right back This is my ad vice Don't do what I do [Key: D Minor] [Verse 3: band pulls back to guitar and voice only, sparse] Fourth thing: never say the number out loud The number of anything — years, drinks, times you tried The number is a door and they will walk through it Keep the door closed, keep the room yours Fifth thing: when you're alone, don't practice your face That's the one that gets you, that's the one that shows [Key: D Minor] [Pre-Chorus: guitar and bass, drums return soft, tension rising] And I've been doing this so long I forget which part is the lesson Which part is the wound Which part I'm still paying for [Key: Bb Major] [Chorus: full band, vocal stronger, harmonies on "ad vice" only] This is my ad vice Take it, it's free This is my ad vice You'll see what I mean I give it away And I take it right back This is my ad vice Don't do what I do [Key: D Minor] [guitar solo, guitar fingerpicked] [no crash cymbal spam] [Bridge: half-time feel, drums drop to brushed snare, guitar fingerpicked high, vocal almost spoken] You think I'm teaching you You think there's something here to hold But every word I hand you I already sold I already sold I already sold [Key: F Major] [no crash cymbal spam] [Final Chorus: full band returns heavier, vocal cracks, harmonies wider] This is my ad vice Take it, it's free This is my ad vice You'll see what I mean I give it away And I take it right back This is my ad vice Don't do what I do [Key: D Minor] [no crash cymbal spam] [Instrumental Outro] [Hard Stop] [End]
