[Intro – instrumental | 8 bars] vinyl hiss soft wind Rhodes chords dripping slow single sax note echoes brushed drums enter gently [Verse 1 – close, warm vocal] Street’s half asleep under falling white Footsteps carving lines through the night Traffic cone leaning like it gave up hope Bench full of frost and an old wool coat Lamp glow melting into rain Gold reflections running like a train Every window holds a fire Every heart got one old desire [Pre-Chorus – breathy harmony] Cold air… breathing in my lungs Feels like all my songs unsung City hums a low refrain Soft as sorrow, sweet as pain [Hook – melodic, sax answers lines] Midnight in amber light Everything slowing down tonight Lonely don’t mean alone When the street feels like home Snow falling soft and thin Washing off where I’ve been Under that halo glow I let it go… I let it go [Background vocals] mmm… stay slow… ooo… don’t go… [Instrumental – muted trumpet solo | 8 bars] trumpet phrases walking bass Rhodes chords shimmer wet reverb tails [Verse 2 – slightly deeper tone] Old cars sleeping by the curb Chrome catching ghosts of words Factories drawn in smoke and gray Like yesterday won’t fade away Bare trees scratch the cloudy sky Like they’re asking the night why But the quiet talks back to me Says, “This is where you’re meant to be” [Pre-Chorus 2 – softer] Breath turns silver in the cold Memories I still hold Every shadow, every sign Feels like yours and mine [Hook – fuller band + strings] Midnight in amber light Saxophone crying soft and bright Broken hearts still mend When the long roads bend Snow keeps drifting down Like peace without a sound Under that halo glow I let it go… I let it go [Bridge – spoken/sung noir monologue] Pavement shining like glass Watching old days pass Trumpet talking low Things only night would know Maybe love don’t leave Maybe it just sleeps Waiting in the blue For me and you [Final Hook – stacked harmonies + sax lead] Midnight in amber light Hold me through the quiet night Every scar turns gold In the cold… in the cold Midnight in amber light Everything gonna be alright City slow and low Home is where I go [Outro – instrumental fade] Rhodes + sax duet vinyl crackle wind fade to silence