Splinters In The Quiet

**[Verse 1 – soft acoustic, low baritone]**

I trace the cracks across the ceiling

Like maps of everywhere I’ve been

Every promise left bleeding

Underneath my skin

You say I wear my silence

Like armor I can’t remove

But every word you whisper

Just tightens up the noose

**[Pre-Chorus – harmonies start stacking]**

I don’t wanna feel this hollow

Don’t wanna drown in slow decay

You’re the light I used to follow

Now you flicker, fade away

*(Layered high harmony on last line)*

Fade away… fade away…

**[Chorus – full harmonies, light percussion enters]**

We’re splinters in the quiet

Breaking in slow motion

Dancing on a wire

Over darkened oceans

If love is just a riot

Why do we stay broken?

Screaming through the silence

With every word unspoken

*(Background airy harmonies repeating)*

Unspoken… unspoken…

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**[Verse 2 – slightly more grit in vocals]**

You hold my hand like a weapon

Press your thumb into the bruise

Say forever like a question

You already chose to lose

Your shadow fills the doorway

But you never really stay

You kiss me like a warning

Then slowly walk away

**[Pre-Chorus – stronger, hint of grit]**

I don’t wanna taste the fallout

Don’t wanna breathe in yesterday

Every time we try to crawl out

We just dig a deeper grave

*(Low screamed backing on last word)*

— grave —

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**[Chorus – bigger, thicker harmonies]**

We’re splinters in the quiet

Breaking in slow motion

Dancing on a wire

Over darkened oceans

If love is just a riot

Why do we stay broken?

Screaming through the silence

With every word unspoken

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**[Bridge – stripped back to single guitar, emotional peak]**

(Soft lead vocal)

I built a home inside your chaos

You burned it down for warmth

(Whispered harmony)

For warmth…

(Gradual build, light scream layered under cleans)

I gave you every fractured piece

You only loved me torn

*(Half-screamed line)*

You only love me torn!

**[Break – acoustic chugs, percussive hits]**

If this is love, let it bleed

If this is hope, let it die

I’d rather choke on honesty

Than live another lie

*(Background gang-style harmonies)*

Another lie — another lie —

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**[Final Chorus – biggest, emotionally raw but controlled]**

We’re splinters in the quiet

Shattering wide open

Falling from the fire

With lungs full of smoke and

If love is just a riot

Let it leave us broken

Screaming through the silence

Till there’s nothing left unspoken

*(Stacked harmonies repeating and fading)*

Unspoken… unspoken…

Nothing left unspoken…

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