[Instrumental Intro]
(Instruments: Fingerpicked acoustic guitar, slow building drums, soft pad sound underneath)
[Verse 1]
(Vocals: Soft, slightly weary)
Another birthday candle, flickers in the gloom
Guess I'm halfway to never, staring at this room
Used to dream of mansions, flying 'round the world
Now I'm just paying bills, watching dreams unfurl
[Pre-Chorus]
(Vocals: Slightly more intensity)
Remember all those promises, whispered in the night?
Thought we'd conquer everything, bathed in golden light
But the road got longer, and the light began to fade
Now we're just stumbling onward, feeling kinda frayed
[Chorus]
(Vocals: Stronger, layered harmonies)
Halfway to never, and the map is torn
Trying to find the pieces, since the day we were born
Halfway to never, is this all there is?
Just a slow surrender, to the bitter kiss
[Instrumental Interlude]
(Instruments: Acoustic guitar solo, pedal steel enters with a mournful melody)
[Verse 2]
(Vocals: Soft, reflective)
Kids are growing faster, lines upon my face
Another goddamn reminder, time cannot erase
Used to think I knew it, had it all worked out
Now I'm just fumbling blindly, filled with doubt
[Pre-Chorus]
(Vocals: Slightly more intensity)
Remember all those battles, fought with youthful fire?
Thought we'd change the world, take it so much higher
But the flames got weaker, and the passion turned to ash
Now we're just going through the motions, in a weary dash
[Chorus]
(Vocals: Stronger, layered harmonies)
Halfway to never, and the map is torn
Trying to find the pieces, since the day we were born
Halfway to never, is this all there is?
Just a slow surrender, to the bitter kiss
[Bridge]
(Vocals: More raw, emotional, stripped down to just acoustic guitar)
Maybe there's a beauty, in this slow decline
Maybe we can find it, if we just unwind
Let go of the expectations, the stories we were told
Embrace the messy middle, as we start to grow old
[Chorus]
(Vocals: Full intensity, harmonies, drums build)
Halfway to never, and the map is torn
Trying to find the pieces, since the day we were born
Halfway to never, is this all there is?
Just a slow surrender, to the bitter kiss
[Outro]
(Vocals: Fading, soft, with echo)
Halfway... to never...
(Instruments: Acoustic guitar and pedal steel fade out slowly)