The Psycho's Log (Stardate: Dust)

[A capella intro - 30 seconds, no reverb, close mic]

Day 400. Still no ocean.

Built a raft from car doors. It doesn't float. It never will.

The crew has stopped speaking. They just make paddling motions with their hands.

I caught one of them licking dust. Said it tasted like salt. Said if he closed his eyes, he could hear waves.

I closed my eyes.

I heard nothing.

End log entry.

[Band enters - waltz time, clean guitar, bass walking]

[Verse 1]
Day 401 / I built a compass / Points to where the water was
Day 402 / I carved a sextant / From a femur and some fuzz
Day 403 / I climbed a dune / Thought I saw the tide
Just a heat wave playing tricks / Just the dust inside my eyes

[Chorus]
Log entry / Log entry / The captain's going mad
He talks to skeletons / And the only friend he's had
Is a splintered oar / And a hunger for the shore
Log entry / Log entry / He doesn't log anymore

[Verse 2]
Day 405 / The crew abandoned ship / Took the raft I built
Left me with a single paddle / And a skull that's full of guilt
I asked the skull what day it was / It said: "Does it matter?"
I said: "No, I suppose it doesn't." Then my teeth began to chatter

[Chorus]
Log entry / Log entry / The captain's going mad
He talks to skeletons / And the only friend he's had
Is a splintered oar / And a hunger for the shore
Log entry / Log entry / He doesn't log anymore

[Breakdown - waltz slows, almost stops]
[spoken, exhausted]
Day... I don't know. I drew a ship in the sand. I laid down inside it.
I pretended the dust was water.
I pretended the wind was waves.
I pretended I wasn't alone.

[sung, broken]
I pretended...

[Outro - waltz stumbles, then stops]
[sung, fading]
Log entry... log entry... captain signing off...
The ocean never answers... but I still radio the cough...
[last line, spoken:]
...of a wave that never comes.

[Single guitar chord. Then silence.]

Key: A minor (waltz time: 3/4)
· Tempo: 80 BPM (loping, off-kilter), male, Surf Rock