The Answer

How deep?

How far?

I hear breathing

Where the echoes are {distant vocal echo sinking through layers of reverb,

haunted piano, chiming guitar harmonics,

reversed breaths}

I dropped one word into the dark Waited to hear where it

would land It came back wearing someone’s voice Saying things I never

said The walls grew wet,

the air grew thin A low vibration pulled me in I called

again to test the sound Something underneath called out

{tight rim clicks, restrained electronic

drums, deep sub-bass}

It knows the words Before they leave It knows the parts I

never speak {swelling strings,

filter sweeps, tension building} Every time I call,

something answers Every time I fall,

it comes closer I thought the voice below was mine Now it’s

saying what I hide Every time I call,

something answers Pulling every shadow from the water I came looking for

an echo But something answers {erupting section,

thunderous toms, distorted low guitars,

cinematic

strings, soaring vocals} The surface vanished overhead The light became a silver

thread I felt the pressure in my chest Then heard it whisper,

“There is depth left” It knew the shape of every scar Knew

why I came and who we are I asked it how it

knew my name It laughed and asked me just the same

{sudden drop in dynamics,

back to intimate drum groove,

close-mic vocals, whispered response} It knows the words Before they leave It

knows the parts I never speak {building orchestral strings and heavy guitar

fuzz}

Maybe it was always waiting Maybe I was always near

Maybe depth is only distance Made from everything we fear If I

follow where it’s calling If I let the darkness in Will I

finally meet the answer Or become the voice beneath?

{ethereal shift, ambient keys,

smooth vocal slides, long delay throws}

Who are you?

You know

Where are you?

Below

Let me out

Come in

Say my name Again {alternating vocal chops,

glitchy stutters, deep sonar pulse,

rising tension}

Every time I call,

something answers Every time I fall,

it comes closer I thought the voice below was mine Now it’s

speaking from inside Every time I call,

something answers Pulling every shadow from the water I went searching for

an echo

Now I am the answer {maximum intensity,

thunderous toms, screaming guitars,

wall of sound

strings} From somewhere deeper— Another voice calls {all instruments cut,

lonely piano echo, reversed breath fading to silence}