Shoulda Woulda Coulda

Modern Rock / Pop Grunge Crossover ... Adapted from my poem 'Time'. (Please subscribe if you enjoy my content.) (Intro) (Clean, chorused guitar riff builds as a distant tape-delayed vocal whispers:) "Tick-tock, tick-tock..." Verse 1 (Core Stanza 1) The tick-tock of a heavy clock Precious moments passed on by Moving too quickly, a sudden shock Though not quick enough to fly We try to hold on, but the grip is slack Because we know we cannot get it back Pre-Chorus (Core Stanza 2 - Counterpoint & Call-and-Response) Hesitation stalls the mind... (Echo:) Stalls the mind... Too late, the moment leaves us behind (Lead:) Shoulda... (Backup Harmony:) Woulda... (Lead:) Coulda... (Together:) The makings of a memory... That never was designed. Chorus SHOULDA, WOULDA, COULDA Now I wonder, what if? Standing on the edge of a jagged cliff The chance was there, but thoughts got in the way Now we are drowning in the shadows of yesterday (Lead:) WHAT IF? (Backup:) What if... (Together:) WHAT IF? Verse 2 (Core Stanza 3 & 4 Adaptive) The chance was there, so crystal clear But doubts and thoughts got in the way Now there is wonder, and an icy fear A question burning through the gray Cruel the creator who made this space Who built a trap we can't erase. Chorus SHOULDA, WOULDA, COULDA Now I wonder, what if? Standing on the edge of a jagged cliff The chance was there, but thoughts got in the way Now we are drowning in the shadows of yesterday (Lead:) WHAT IF? (Backup:) What if... Bridge (Climax - Emotional Overlap) (Tempo feels heavier, guitars drop into a massive, chugging groove) (Lead:) A passage which has no end! (Backup Counterpoint:) Marches on, it marches on... (Lead:) A beginning that we cannot revisit or mend! (Vocals overlap frantically, building tension) As it marches on, it tears through the track We are moving ahead, and we can't look back! Guitar Solo (Melodic, crying grunge-style solo over the chorus chord progression) Chorus SHOULDA, WOULDA, COULDA Now I wonder, what if? Standing on the edge of a jagged cliff The chance was there, but thoughts got in the way Now we are drowning in the shadows of yesterday Outro (The heavy instruments suddenly cut out, leaving just a gritty acoustic guitar and the dual vocals) (Lead:) What if? (Backup harmony:) A beginning we cannot revisit... (Lead:) What if? (Delayed Vocal Fade-out:) Tick... tock... tick... tock...