Smoke & Smile

[Intro – gentle acoustic guitar strum, faint pedal steel hum] Dust motes dance in the porch light glow Screen door creaks where the cold wind blows [Verse 1 – slow fingerpicked guitar, soft snare brush] I remember the first time we started talking Old porch swing swayed, the world stopped walking I’d forgotten how to let my guard fall down You sat there quiet, didn’t make a sound [Pre-Chorus – subtle bassline, rising pedal steel] Then you laughed at that dumb joke I told Something in my chest finally unfolded A part of me I thought was gone for good Woke up breathing like it should [Chorus 1 – full country band, warm harmonies] You were the reason I got my laugh back The reason I slept with a smile on my rack You made me feel like myself again You don’t just fix days, you fix the end [Interlude – pedal steel solo, soft acoustic backing] (Instrumental Solo) [Verse 2 – slightly faster strum, light tambourine] I’d spent so long stuck in the dark haze Counting the ways I’d lost my old days You didn’t try to fix what was broken Just sat with me, words unspoken [Pre-Chorus 2 – layered vocals, building pedal steel] Then you handed me a cup of warm coffee Said “let’s take it slow, no need to hurry” That’s when I knew my luck had turned around Finally found solid ground [Chorus 2 – intensified band, more prominent harmonies] You were the reason I got my laugh back The reason I slept with a smile on my rack You made me feel like myself again You don’t just fix days, you fix the end You don’t just make my days better You make my whole life feel lighter [Bridge – stripped back acoustic, intimate vocals] I’ll never stop being grateful for you For every sunrise, every moonlit view For the way you hold me when I’m feeling low For the love that makes my heart grow [Final Chorus – full band with string section, soaring pedal steel] You were the reason I got my laugh back The reason I sleep with a smile on my rack You made me feel like myself again You don’t just fix days, you fix the end You don’t just make my days better You make my whole life feel lighter [Outro – fading acoustic guitar, faint pedal steel] Dust motes settle in the porch light glow Screen door creaks, but my heart don’t know How to ever go back to the way it was Now that I’ve got your love