The Last Man at the Party

[Intro — room tone, distant laughter, then silence, then one guitar note, wrong, held] [Verse 1 — spoken, almost] They all left with someone I stayed with the bottles Not drinking — just counting How many it takes to forget A name I never learned [Verse 2 — same, building] The host said "you don't have to go" The host said "but you can't stay here" I said I know a place Between the door and the driveway Where the world forgets to check [Pre-Chorus — first melody, humming] I don't dance, I don't sing I just watch the lights go dim [Chorus — open up, but keep the mystery] I'm the last man at the party The one you don't remember leaving The one who holds your coat The one who knows you're grieving Before you do I'm the last man at the party And I'm not leaving till I see you [Verse 3 — darker, lower] I saw you in the kitchen Crying over wine you didn't taste I saw your husband not see it I saw your wedding ring Try to choke the ghost out [Verse 4 — almost whispered] I didn't save you I don't save people I just stay Till the staying Becomes the story [Pre-Chorus — fuller] I don't dance, I don't sing I just watch the lights go dim [Chorus — bigger, but still hidden] I'm the last man at the party The one you don't remember leaving The one who holds your coat The one who knows you're grieving Before you do I'm the last man at the party And I'm not leaving till I see you [Bridge — silence, then voice only, no guitar] Ask anyone They'll tell you I was never there Ask the room It'll tell you I left no air [Final Chorus — all out, but still unknown] I'M THE LAST MAN AT THE PARTY THE ONE YOU DON'T REMEMBER LEAVING THE ONE WHO HOLDS YOUR COAT THE ONE WHO KNOWS YOU'RE GRIEVING BEFORE YOU DO I'M THE LAST MAN AT THE PARTY AND I'M NOT LEAVING TILL I SEE YOU [Whispered] Till I see you... [Outro — room tone returns, distant laughter, door closes, silence]