The Long Way Down

The Long Way Down

Lyrics

[Intro: solo vocal, no instrumentation] I learned to swim in water too deep to stand My mother's voice said don't look down The current took everything I held Everything I held

[Verse 1: fingerpicked acoustic guitar, subtle synth pad] There's a road I know that doesn't appear on maps It runs behind the house where I grew up Past the church with the broken stained glass Past the field where the corn grew too high I walked it every summer with my shoes off Feeling the heat rise through the dirt

[Chorus: add bassline, soft electronic beat, breathy husky vocal] The long way down is longer than you think You count the miles in breath not steps You learn the dark by living in it You learn the light by almost losing it

[Verse 2: fuller instrumentation, electric guitar texture] My father drove that road at midnight once Headlights off, said he could feel the way I didn't understand then what he meant Now I drive it with my eyes closed too Some things you learn by going blind

[Chorus: louder, more driving] The long way down is longer than you think You count the miles in breath not steps You learn the dark by living in it You learn the light by almost losing it

[Bridge: sparse, drop back to vocal + pad only] I dreamt I was falling and I didn't wake up I dreamt I was falling and I didn't wake up I dreamt I was falling and the road caught me The road caught me

[Outro: solo vocal, no instrumentation, fading to silence] The long way down The long way down I'm still going