[Intro]
[Grand piano]
DAH.
DAH-DAH.
DAH-DAH-DAH!
[Voice, low baritone]
Everybody loves
the winner.
Until the winner
starts losing.
[Full band enters]
[Verse 1]
I walked into the room
with my best jacket on,
one button missing,
but nobody noticed.
Good.
There were twenty people
telling twenty stories
about how certain
their lives had become.
New houses.
New jobs.
Wedding plans.
Five-year plans.
I had a glass in my hand
and absolutely
no idea what I was doing.
So when somebody asked:
“Where do you see yourself
in five years?”
I said:
“Hopefully
with better questions.”
Nobody laughed.
One woman did.
From the other side
of the room.
That was enough.
[Pre-Chorus]
I spent too long
trying to look certain.
What a waste
of good confusion.
[Piano signature]
DAH.
DAH-DAH.
DAH-DAH-DAH!
[DEAD SILENCE]
[High vocal scream]
STILL HERE!
[Chorus]
I’M THE LAST ONE STANDING
WHEN THE PERFECT PLANS FALL DOWN!
LAST ONE LAUGHING
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT!
I DON’T NEED
TO KNOW THE ENDING!
I JUST NEED
A REASON TO BEGIN!
IF THE WHOLE WORLD
HAS IT FIGURED OUT...
GOOD FOR THEM!
I’M STILL HERE!
[Choir]
STILL HERE!
[Verse 2]
My brother called me
three weeks later.
Said:
“You sound different.”
I said:
“I finally stopped
pretending I’m not.”
He went quiet.
Then laughed.
That laugh
told me more
than most advice
I’ve ever paid attention to.
I used to think
confidence meant
walking into a room
like you owned it.
Now I think
it’s walking into a room
knowing you might be wrong
and sitting down anyway.
That’s harder.
Less impressive.
Much more useful.
[Pre-Chorus]
I don’t need
a crown.
I need enough nerve
to look ridiculous
and keep going.
[Piano signature]
DAH.
DAH-DAH.
DAH-DAH-DAH!
[SILENCE]
[High belt]
STILL HERE!
[Chorus]
I’M THE LAST ONE STANDING
WHEN THE PERFECT PLANS FALL DOWN!
LAST ONE LAUGHING
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT!
I DON’T NEED
TO KNOW THE ENDING!
I JUST NEED
A REASON TO BEGIN!
IF THE WHOLE WORLD
HAS IT FIGURED OUT...
GOOD FOR THEM!
I’M STILL HERE!
[Break]
[Only piano]
[Voice drops to intimate baritone]
There’s a strange freedom
in finally admitting:
“I don’t know.”
[Choir whispers]
Don’t know...
[Voice]
Because once you say it...
you can go anywhere.
[Drums explode back]
[Guitar Solo]
[Short melodic virtuoso solo]
[Operatic choir rises underneath]
[Bridge]
[Baritone]
Let them measure.
Let them compare.
Let them draw
their straight little lines.
[Voice climbs]
I’ll take the corners.
I’ll take the mistakes.
I’ll take the nights
that change my mind.
[Tenor belt]
And if I fall—
[Band stops]
I’ll make
a better entrance
on the way back up.
[Final Build]
[Piano signature, bigger]
DAH!
DAH-DAH!
DAH-DAH-DAH!
[Silence]
[Huge scream]
STILL HERE!
[Final Chorus]
I’M THE LAST ONE STANDING!
NOT BECAUSE
I NEVER FELL!
I’M THE LAST ONE STANDING
’CAUSE I LEARNED
TO FALL WELL!
NO PERFECT MAP!
NO PERFECT LINE!
NO PERFECT VERSION
OF THIS LIFE!
IF TOMORROW
CHANGES EVERYTHING...
LET IT!
I’LL CHANGE TOO!
BUT TONIGHT—
[Choir]
TONIGHT!
[Lead]
I’M STILL HERE!
[Choir]
STILL HERE!
[Lead, high]
STILL HERE!
[Outro]
[Grand piano only]
Someone asks:
“So what’s the plan?”
[Small pause]
[Low baritone]
I’ll tell you
when I ruin it.
[Final piano chord]
