In Rewind

[whispered, close, almost no music]

Headlights on the ceiling.

Somebody's radio still going.

There's so much still out on the counter.

[rap, quiet and urgent, nearly muttered]

Left the light on in the kitchen, said I'd get it in a minute

Left your message on the screen, said I'd answer when I'd finished

Never finished

Never once got to the bottom of a single thing I started

There's a door in the hallway that sticks in the summer

I said I'd plane it down in June

It's still sticking

And I'm still saying June

[sung, exposed, thin]

I thought I had more of it

I thought it came in bigger pieces

Turns out it was mostly Tuesdays

And I spent them getting ready

[melodic scream, sustained, cracking]

I'm not ready yet

I'm not — I'm not ready yet

[melodic scream, sustained, cracking]

I'm not ready yet

I'm not — I'm not ready yet

[rap, further back, quieter]

Two summers back you asked me what I wanted

I said I'd tell you when I knew

You waited

God, you waited

I had a plan for us in a drawer somewhere

Under the manuals and the warranties

Everything I owned came with instructions

Except the part I needed

And it's going further back now

And it's getting quieter

And I don't like where it's going

I thought I had more of it

I thought it came in bigger pieces

Turns out it was mostly Tuesdays

And I spent them getting ready

[one guttural scream, the only time the record goes this far, then nothing]

You're going to find out from somebody else

[sung, bare, the earliest thing left]

I'm seven and the sprinklers are on

And nobody's calling me in yet

And the whole thing's still in front of me

And I'm not doing anything with it

And that's allowed

That's what it's for

I thought I had more of it

I thought it came in bigger pieces

Turns out it was mostly Tuesdays

And some of them were perfect

[whispered, off-mic]

Sprinklers.

Somebody's radio.

Tell her the door sticks in the summer.