TRACK 5 “I’M STILL HERE” from the album I DON’T LEAVE Performed by Mr Gritty Witty Written by: 12 Gauge858 OPENING (MINIMAL — STRINGS + ROOM TONE) (Low strings swell slowly. No drums yet.) (spoken, barely above a breath) Yeah… I’m still here. VERSE 1 The house don’t sound the way it used to Every word echoes late We talk in circles ’round the truth now Like naming it makes it break I’ve stood in silence long enough To hear what you don’t say Every goodbye you didn’t mean Still lingers in the space (ad-libs, low and restrained) —mm… —I hear it —yeah… PRE-CHORUS You been waiting for me to fade Like everybody else before But I don’t disappear that way I don’t walk out the door (breath catch) Not like that… CHORUS (PRIMARY — STEADY, NOT LOUD YET) I’m still here After the shouting, the tears After the doubts, after all these years You can push You can fear But I ain’t gone I’m still here (ad-libs, distant and stacked) —still here —yeah… —right here VERSE 2 I know I’m not easy to love I come with weight, I come with scars But I ain’t ever loved you halfway I just loved you where you are I’ve been tired, I’ve been wrong I’ve been everything but free But when it mattered most I stayed where you needed me (spoken ad-libs, close) —I stayed —right here —yeah… PRE-CHORUS 2 (LIFT) If you’re waiting on a moment Where I finally give up You don’t know me the way you think I don’t quit on us (rasp cracks slightly) I don’t… CHORUS (LIFTED) I’m still here When the room feels cold When the love gets quiet When the nights get old I’m still here When you don’t believe When it’s easier to leave Than stay with me (ad-libs, emotional but controlled) —still here —yeah, I am —don’t leave BRIDGE (BREAKPOINT — ALMOST COLLAPSE) (Music strips back to cello + breath.) I ain’t asking you to be sure I ain’t asking you to choose I’m just standing in the middle With nothing left to prove (voice tightens) If I was gonna walk away I would’ve done it years ago (half-bar silence) (quiet ad-lib) —but I didn’t FINAL CHORUS (FULL — WIDE, RESOLVED) I’M STILL HERE AFTER THE SCREAMS AND THE TEARS AFTER THE DOORS AFTER ALL THESE YEARS YOU CAN DOUBT ME FEAR ME TRY TO DISAPPEAR BUT I AIN’T GONE NO, I AIN’T RUN I’M STILL HERE (ad-libs, stacked, cracked, powerful) —still here —yeah… —ain’t gone —I’m right here OUTRO (QUIET RESOLVE) (Strings fall back. Guitar hums softly.) (spoken, calm) I never promised perfect… (pause) I promised presence. (final whisper) I’m still here. (Strings fade. Track ends.)
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