Paper and Dust

[Intro]

[Instrumental: soft jazzy piano chords, muted shaker pattern, distant log drum hum]

[Verse 1]

Left your key on the counter by the door

We don't talk about the quiet anymore

Packed my coats in the middle of the night

Funny how the silence gets so loud and bright

I kept the shadow, you took the light

[Pre-Chorus]

[Build: rimshots layer in, log drum pitch bends, warm bass swells]

And I don't know who to call when the rain starts falling down

Walking through the city, just another face in town

[Chorus]

[Soaring: deep house groove kicks in, heavy resonant log drums, anthemic vocals]

Oh, we built a house out of paper and dust

Traded all our promise for a broken trust

Now the music plays, but the dance is through

I'm standing in the dark, still reaching for you

Yeah, the song goes on, but I'm losing you

[Verse 2]

[Strip back: tender jazzy piano, minimal shaker]

Found your hoodie in the back of my car

Smells like coffee and a distant star

I almost called, but I put the phone away

Some things are better left unsaid today

We ran out of reasons left to stay

[Pre-Chorus]

And I don't know who to call when the rain starts falling down

Walking through the city, just another face in town

[Chorus]

Oh, we built a house out of paper and dust

Traded all our promise for a broken trust

Now the music plays, but the dance is through

I'm standing in the dark, still reaching for you

Yeah, the song goes on, but I'm losing you

[Bridge]

[Atmospheric: vocal chops, deep sub-bass, intricate percussion layer]

Is it easier to leave or to be the one who stays?

Counting every second of these empty, quiet days

We were golden, now we're gray

[Chorus]

Oh, we built a house out of paper and dust

Traded all our promise for a broken trust

Now the music plays, but the dance is through

I'm standing in the dark, still reaching for you

Yeah, the song goes on, but I'm losing you

[Outro]

[Fade out: soft piano chords, gentle shaker, fading log drum]

Paper and dust...

Reaching for you...

[End]