[Verse 1]
Grey sky, granite stone
He hit the ground like a dropped phone
Outside the chippy, folk just froze
Wide eyes, hand on clothes
Somebody shout, “Phone 999!”
Hands all shaking, losing time
Operator calm on the other line
“Stay with me, you’ll be fine”
Check his chest, not moving right
Face gone pale in the streetlight
Crowd in a ring, hearts all tight
Ambulance miles out of sight
[Chorus]
We can’t wait on the wail of a siren
When the minutes keep sliding away
Put the shock in the heart of the Highlands
On the wall, on the street, in the fray
Aberdeen, every second we’re blessed or we’re lost
Hit the pads, hit the charge, cut the cost
We don’t pray for a guess in the dark
We bring the thunder, bring him back with a spark
[Verse 2]
“You know CPR?” “A bit, I’ll try”
Push on his chest, hear someone cry
Count it out, keep that rhythm tight
“Thirty pumps, two breaths,” do it right
“Where’s that box with the blinking light?”
Shop front corner, red and white
Code from the call, case pops wide
Pads on skin, hope inside
“Stand back, clear,” voice so flat
Machine talks facts, no time for chat
Shock goes through and his body snaps
Then a cough, then a gasp, then claps
[Chorus]
We can’t wait on the wail of a siren
When the minutes keep sliding away
Put the shock in the heart of the Highlands
On the wall, on the street, in the fray
Aberdeen, every second we’re blessed or we’re lost
Hit the pads, hit the charge, cut the cost
We don’t pray for a guess in the dark
We bring the thunder, bring him back with a spark
[Bridge]
This for the shops and the schools and the flats (hey!)
Corners and pitches and crowded cul-de-sacs
Map every box, know the code, know the place
Practice the steps till it’s fixed in your brain
‘Cause when a heart stops, it don’t send a text
It could be you, could be me, could be next
Project breathing in the bones of the town
Granite hearts learning how to shut death down
[Chorus]
We can’t wait on the wail of a siren
When the minutes keep sliding away
Put the shock in the heart of the Highlands
On the wall, on the street, in the fray
Aberdeen, every second we’re blessed or we’re lost
Hit the pads, hit the charge, cut the cost
We don’t pray for a guess in the dark
We bring the thunder, bring him back with a spark