(Intro - bright guitar riff, steel pan licks)
(Verse 1)
RJ rocked up with a sunset grin, a rainbow lei hung loose on his chest,
Tiki bulbs humming cotton candy light, the lounge in its island best.
He winked at a stranger with a laugh like a shot of sunshine, broad and sly,
Stool swung like a dance partner — a misstep, a slip, a sideways sky.
(Pre-Chorus)
Time went syrup-slow: a clink, a gasp, the barstool spun like a rumor in June,
A swivel that promised salsa, then the night tilted into a cartoon.
Sound fell to hush, then someone counted, breath held in a glittery cup —
(Instrumental pause: everything drops out)
Solo, whispered into nothing: "And I fucked up."
(Chorus) (call & response / gang vocal)
(call) "And I fucked up," (solo, raw, one voice)
(response) "We heard you," (soft harmonies rise)
(call) "Under neon palms, my balance went corrupt," (solo)
(response) "We still got your back," (gang vocal, full)
We clap, we laugh, we raise our glass, we sing him back to center stage —
A little bent, a little bruised, still the brightest light on that page.
(Verse 2)
The table took its bow with a comic clatter, napkins flew like flags of white,
Someone hollered "Encore!" and Loyd poured another drink for the night.
RJ dusted off his pride, his lip glossy, grin crooked like a song,
His lei askew, his ankle taped, he made the tumble look like where hearts belong.
(Pre-Chorus)
Phones lit like fireflies; somebody shouted, "Tell us you’re still breathing!"
A guy at the far end winked and said, "Darlin', your entrance had us grieving —"
The lights went thin, the band pulled back for that one fragile, honest line —
(Instrumental pause: hush)
Alone in the spotlight, he sang it soft: "And I fucked up."
(Chorus) (call & response / gang vocal)
(call) "And I fucked up," (fragile, then louder)
(response) "We gotcha," (harmonies embrace)
(call) "Tiki lights and busted moves, I learned how to erupt,"
(response) "We'll steady you, baby," (crowd answers) "we'll fill your cup."
Hands on shoulders, feet on floor, the chorus lifts him up again,
From pratfall to punchline, he’s the glitter glued to the barstool’s friend.
(Bridge - bittersweet, slow, then builds)
He jokes about the angle — "That table had a mind of state," he winks,
But in the hush you hear a little ache, a breath that almost sinks.
Maybe it’s the fear that shows when nobody’s watching close at night,
Or the small, bright hope that someone will stay to steady you by light.
(Bridge resolution - campy turn)
The guy who winked now holds out a hand, an offer safe and sly,
He says, "If tables keep on tangoing, I’ll be your steady guy."
RJ snorts, he takes the help, they both laugh at the absurd line,
Two shadows in the tiki glow, two hearts trading jokes and time.
(Final Chorus - key lift, full harmony)
(call) "And I fucked up," (one voice, then join)
(response) "And we still love you," (full choir, harmonized)
(call) "Under neon palms and a moon that loves to interrupt,"
(response) "We hold the light, we hold the joke, we hold your messy luck."
T
