TITLE: WHEN THE APPLAUSE DIES DOWN ARTIST: DJ DR LOVE [Live Intro — Solo Electric Piano, Gentle Audience Applause] [Deep spoken male voice] Y’all been good to me tonight. But this next one… Is for the person who knows you When you ain’t entertaining nobody. The one who can hear “I’m fine”… And knows to ask one more time. [Soft organ enters.] Baby… This one’s yours. [Verse 1 — Intimate Baritone] They see the jacket and the polished shoes, Hear me singing like I never had the blues. See the smile when I step into the light, Think a man like me must always be all right. But you know the sound of my key in the door, When I set that heavy bag down on the floor. You don’t ask me how many people came, You put your arms around me, say my name. And something in my shoulders finally lets go, I don’t have to turn this evening into a show. You move your coffee, make a place for mine, Say, “Come sit down, baby, we got time.” [Pre-Chorus — Soft Midrange Rising] Out there, I can hold a room, Make a hundred people sing. But one quiet word from you… Does a different kind of thing. [Chorus — Full, Soulful Tenor] When the applause dies down, Will you hold me like you do? When there’s nothing left to prove, Let me come home to you. When the last light fades, And the band has packed away, I don’t need another standing ovation… Just a place beside you to stay. [Soft falsetto] You don’t have to call me Doctor… [Low baritone] Just call me closer, baby. [Verse 2 — Warm, Gently Rhythmic] You got your own long day behind those eyes, And I’ve been talking, haven’t asked about your night. So let me put this phone face down, Pour that tea you like and settle down. Tell me who wore out your patience today, You can say the things you couldn’t say. I can leave the answers where they are, Sometimes you need an ear and not a seminar. [Audience chuckles. Light guitar response.] Then you start laughing at the face I make, Reach across the table, steal a little taste. I kiss your fingers, you forget your line, Say, “Look what you keep doing to my mind.” And there’s that little hush we both fall in, Your chair slides closer, there you go again. All night long, I’ve been singing about love, Now you’re right here, and the song ain’t enough. [Pre-Chorus — Tender Tenor, Falsetto Finish] Let me turn that hallway light down, You can pick the record out. We don’t need an audience… To know what this is about. [Chorus — Full Band, Rich Harmonies] When the applause dies down, Will you hold me like you do? When there’s nothing left to prove, Let me come home to you. When the last light fades, And the band has packed away, I don’t need another standing ovation… Just a place beside you to stay. [Airy falsetto] You don’t have to call me Doctor… [Deep warm finish] Just call me closer, baby. [Spoken Breakdown — Bass, Soft Organ] Let me tell you something… Being wanted by a room full of people Feels good. I won’t pretend it doesn’t. [Audience responds.] But having somebody Who notices you got quiet on the ride home… Somebody who reaches over Without making you explain everything first… [Pause.] That’ll make a man Sing a different kind of song. [Bridge — Exposed Low Voice, Rising to Tenor] And if the bookings ever slow, If there’s nowhere Friday night to go, Would you put that record on for me, Still let me pull you to your feet? I’d sing the hook a little out of time, You’d laugh and say, “That part ain’t right.” I’d start again and kiss your cheek, You’d forget the words along with me. [Drums build. Organ swells.] I want those nights nobody sees, Your bare feet stepping over mine. You telling me to slow down, baby… [Soaring tenor] Like we got all— [Sudden drop to intimate bass-baritone] Night. [Eight-Bar Instrumental Break] [Blues guitar and organ trade short phrases.] [Lead adds soft, wordless falsetto.] [Audience Moment — Spoken Over the Groove] If somebody loves you When you ain’t got a performance left in you… Don’t wait till the song’s over. Tell them. [Pause for audience cheers.] [Final Chorus — Powerful Tenor, Layered Background Vocals] When the applause dies down, I’ll be reaching out for you. And when your own day breaks you, You can reach for me there, too. When the last light fades, We can leave the world outside. Let me hear that little laugh again, Let me feel you by my side. [Background vocals] Come on home… Come on home… [Lead — Soaring Tenor] I don’t need another standing ovation… [Band drops to piano.] [Lead — Soft Baritone] Just slide a little closer. [Outro — Deep Spoken Voice] Thank y’all. And baby… If you’re listening… Leave that little lamp on. I’ll put my own bag away. I’ll tell you all about the show. Then I want to hear All about you. [Soft falsetto] When the applause… [Warm baritone] Dies down… [Low spoken finish] That’s when I get to hear your voice. [Held chord. Brief silence. Audience applause.]
