SMALL TALK IN THE FROZEN FOOD AISLE Key: G Major Tempo: 105 BPM Style: Modern Indie Rock / Melodic Alternative Vocal: Relaxed, emotional male tenor with reverb [Intro — Clean Electric Guitar, Eighth-Note Pattern] Guitar riff... Kick enters... Hi-hat opens slowly... Yeah... Funny how a town can feel so small When you don't know what to say. [Verse 1] I saw you by the frozen pizzas, Tuesday night around eight, You were reading all the labels Like you had nowhere else to be. I almost said, "Hey, how've you been?" Then I remembered what we were, So I asked you how your sister's doing, Like we'd never shared a world. You laughed and said, "She's doing better," I said, "Yeah, that's good to hear." Then we stood there with our shopping carts And pretended this was normal here. There was a silence between us That would've scared me back before, Now it's just another thing We don't talk about anymore. [Pre-Chorus — Bass Enters Stronger] And I don't know when we became strangers With a thousand things we know... It's strange how someone can be everything And suddenly just someone you used to know. [Chorus — Expansive, Layered Harmonies] We're making small talk in the frozen food aisle, Wearing the ghost of a compromised smile. You say, "Take care," I say, "You too," Like that's all there's left for us to do. We're standing three feet apart Like there's a whole world between our hearts. You ask me if I'm doing alright, I say, "Yeah, I've been keeping busy." We're making small talk in the frozen food aisle, Trying to make goodbye look easy. Oh-oh... Trying to make goodbye look easy. [Verse 2] I noticed you still buy that coffee, The one you always used to hate. You said you'd never change your mind, Guess some things don't work that way. You asked if I'm still living downtown, I said, "Yeah, most of the time." You said, "I always liked that apartment." I said, "Yeah..." Then looked away. There's a couple standing behind us, Holding hands beside the door, And for a second I remember What I thought we'd have in store. Then the freezer motor kicks back on, And the moment disappears, You smile that same familiar smile I've seen a thousand times before. Only now it isn't mine. [Pre-Chorus] And I don't know when we stopped fighting For the things we couldn't save... Maybe love doesn't always disappear, Sometimes it just changes shape. [Chorus — Bigger] We're making small talk in the frozen food aisle, Wearing the ghost of a compromised smile. You say, "Take care," I say, "You too," Like that's all there's left for us to do. We're standing three feet apart Like there's a whole world between our hearts. You ask me if I'm doing alright, I say, "Yeah, I've been keeping busy." We're making small talk in the frozen food aisle, Trying to make goodbye look easy. Oh-oh... Trying to make goodbye look easy. [Instrumental — Melodic Lead Guitar] Clean electric guitar melody over driving bass and drums. [Bridge — Pull Back] Maybe we were right people At the wrong time... Maybe we were just two good hearts Trying to survive the same life. Maybe somewhere down another road We would've gotten it right... But standing here beneath these fluorescent lights, I finally understand goodbye. SOFT BACKGROUND: Goodbye... LEAD: You don't have to hate somebody To know you can't stay. You don't have to stop loving them To walk away. And maybe that's the hardest part— Because I still care. [Brief Instrumental Pause] But I don't belong there anymore. [Build — Drums + Guitars Intensify] BACKGROUND VOCALS: No, no, no... LEAD: So take your groceries... BACKGROUND: Take your time... LEAD: I'll take the memories... BACKGROUND: Leave the past behind... LEAD: Maybe someday we'll laugh about How strange this all became... BACKGROUND: Maybe someday... [Final Chorus — Huge Anthemic] We're making small talk in the frozen food aisle, Wearing the ghost of a compromised smile. You say, "Take care," I say, "You too," And for once I know exactly what to do. I'm gonna turn around, I'm gonna walk away, I'm gonna let the silence say Everything we couldn't say. We're standing three feet apart, But there's a lifetime between our hearts. You ask me if I'm doing alright... I look at you... "Yeah... I think I might be." We're making small talk in the frozen food aisle, Wearing the ghost of a compromised smile. Maybe this is what moving on looks like— Trying to make goodbye look easy. [Final Post-Chorus — Layered Vocals] Oh-oh-oh... Goodbye... Oh-oh-oh... I think I'm alright... Oh-oh-oh... Maybe someday... Oh-oh-oh... It won't feel strange. [Outro — Clean Guitar + Synth Pad] I saw you by the frozen pizzas... Tuesday night around eight. You smiled... I smiled... And we went our separate ways. Maybe that's enough. [Clean guitar melody fades]
