War I'm Living In

[Vocal: male bari-tenor, G2-E4. Warm, gritty, intimate chest voice. Low conversational verses, rising pre-choruses, powerful controlled choruses. Never above E4. Natural breaths, slight rasp at peaks, restrained vibrato.] [Low, intimate, slightly behind beat.] There's a shadow on the window There's a cold wind through the door I've been sleeping with my demons They don't scare me anymore [Slightly stronger, gritty on "mistakes."] Got a pocket full of nothing And a head full of mistakes Every road I thought would save me Had another damn mistake [Gradually rise; sustain "name."] I hear the highway humming Like it's calling out my name But every mile I leave behind me Still remembers where I came [Dark, heavy; pause before final line.] Maybe home ain't somewhere waiting Maybe home is something earned Maybe you don't find redemption Till you've finally fucking burned [Begin restrained, steadily build toward E4.] I've been dragging all this weight Like I was born to bear the load But some chains ain't made for carrying Some are made to leave beside the road [More breath and urgency; brighter on "fire."] There's a fire past the darkness I can feel it in my bones Maybe I ain't looking for a place Maybe I'm just finding home [Open chest voice, powerful but controlled. E4 peaks; never scream.] So let the rain come down Let it beat against my skin Let the thunder tell the story Of the war I've been living in [Defiant, forward tone.] I ain't turning back now I ain't scared of the night If I gotta crawl through hell I'm still crawling toward the light [Pull back, then build.] I've been lost But I ain't gone I've been broken But I'm still holding on [Half-sung, rebellious edge; punch final line.] Yeah, the world can call me crazy It can call me what it wants I've got one more mile in me And I'm gonna fucking walk [Return low, rough and conversational.] There's an old guitar beside me And a coffee gone to cold Got a thousand crooked stories That I've never fucking told [Heavier emotion, slight rasp.] I remember all the faces Of the ones who watched me fall Some reached down and pulled me upward Some just stood there after all [Reflective and weary.] Maybe time don't heal your wounds Maybe time just makes them known Teaches you to quit pretending Every scar ain't your own [Build toward quiet conviction.] So I'll wear mine like a roadmap Every broken line a mile I don't need to hide the damage Just to prove I learned to smile [More urgent; climb toward E4.] I've been waiting for a reason I've been waiting for a sign But the truth don't always whisper Sometimes it draws a fucking line [Strong build, controlled grit.] There's a fire underneath me That I thought had burned away And it's kicking through the ashes Like it's got something to say [Bigger than first chorus; full chest, controlled grit.] So let the rain come down Let it beat against my skin Let the thunder tell the story Of the war I've been living in [Powerful and defiant.] I ain't turning back now I ain't scared of the night If I gotta crawl through hell I'm still crawling toward the light [Brief pullback, then rebuild.] I've been lost But I ain't gone I've been broken But I'm still holding on [Half-sung aggression; sustain "walk."] Yeah, the world can call me crazy It can call me what it wants I've got one more mile in me And I'm gonna fucking walk [Very low, intimate, almost whispered.] Maybe mercy ain't a miracle Maybe grace don't fall from heaven Maybe sometimes getting back up Is the closest thing to redemption [Build from wounded to determined.] I've spent years chasing shadows I've spent years asking why Tonight I'm gonna face the darkness And let the dead part of me die [Strongest bridge delivery; controlled grit.] No more begging for forgiveness From a past that won't forgive I've got blood inside these veins And I've still got a life to live [Maximum emotion, full chest, controlled grit. E4 ceiling.] So let the rain come down Let it beat against my skin Let the thunder tell the story Of the war I've been living in [Defiant, sustained phrases.] I ain't turning back now I ain't scared of the night If I gotta crawl through hell I'm still crawling toward the light [Pull back, then swell.] I've been lost But I ain't gone I've been broken But I'm still holding on [Huge emotional lift; never above E4.] Let the whole damn sky fall Let the old world disappear I've spent too many years running Now I'm standing right here [build each line, sustain "mine."] I ain't asking for a miracle I ain't waiting for a sign I've got both feet on this road now And this fucking road is mine [powerful, then release.] I've been lost But I ain't gone I've been broken But I'm still holding on [Low, intimate, peaceful.] The rain is getting softer And the darkness letting go There's a road beneath my feet now [Almost whispered; slow and gentle.] And I finally know I finally know Which way to go [Final "go": soft sustained note, gentle fade.]