The First Excuse

[Extended Instrumental Intro — three-note motif slowly brightens]

[Verse 1 – Male]
I checked the time, then checked again
The afternoon was close to ten
I found a place you might enjoy
And sent the thought without a voice

[Verse 2 – Female]
You said you’d heard that place was good
I said I’d go, as if I could
Pretend this meeting came by chance
And not because I hoped you’d ask

[Pre-Chorus – Together]
A simple plan, a careful start
A little courage from the heart

[Chorus – Duet]
We found the first excuse
A table, a street, a reason to choose
We found the first excuse
Two separate lives with a path running through

No grand confession, no perfect line
Just your hand brushing close to mine
We found the first excuse
And neither of us wanted to lose it

[Instrumental Drop — three-note motif opens into a full synth lead]

[Verse 3 – Female]
The talk came easy, then slowed down
A softer space inside the sound
You made me laugh; I looked away
And hoped you’d ask to meet another day

[Pre-Chorus – Together]
A simple plan, a careful start
A little courage from the heart

[Chorus – Duet]
We found the first excuse
A table, a street, a reason to choose
We found the first excuse
Two separate lives with a path running through

No grand confession, no perfect line
Just your hand brushing close to mine
We found the first excuse
And neither of us wanted to lose it

[Breakdown – Female]
Was it chance?
(Male) Maybe so.
(Female) Was it planned?
(Male) I hoped you’d know.

[Build – Together]
One more evening
One more step
A beginning we haven’t named yet

[Final Chorus – Duet]
We found the first excuse
A table, a street, a reason to choose
We found the first excuse
Two separate lives with a path running through

No grand confession, no perfect line
Just your hand brushing close to mine
We found the first excuse
And neither of us wanted to lose it

[Extended Instrumental Outro — three-note motif carries forward]