Restricted Access

[Verse 1]
Badge on the door says "staff only"
Red tape wrapped round my name
Keycard blinks that dead blue heartbeat
Like it never knew my face
You said
"Stay here
Wait in the hallway"
But you left the door half-cracked
All that light in there
All that silence
How am I supposed to turn back
[Chorus]
Restricted access
But you let me in once
Now I'm pressing on the handle
Just to feel it locked shut
You drew the line in permanent ink
Then you crossed it
Kissed me
Stepped back
Now my heart keeps tripping the alarm
On your restricted access
[Verse 2]
Coffee cup ring on your desk
My name scribbled
Then crossed out
Screensaver flickers our reflection
Two ghosts trying not to shout
You talk rules like gospel verses
Then you laugh and touch my sleeve
Say it's "policy
Protocol
Process"
While your eyes beg me not to leave
[Chorus]
Restricted access
But you let me in once
Now I'm pressing on the handle
Just to feel it locked shut
You drew the line in permanent ink
Then you crossed it
Kissed me
Stepped back
Now my heart keeps tripping the alarm
On your restricted access
[Bridge]
Swipe denied
But you keep my photo
Face on file
Hidden in your folder
If I'm the risk
Why keep me this close?
If I'm off-limits
Why can't you let go? (why can't you let go?)
[Chorus]
Restricted access
But you let me in once
Now I'm pressing on the handle
Just to feel it locked shut
You drew the line in permanent ink
Then you crossed it
Kissed me
Stepped back
Now my heart keeps tripping the alarm
On your restricted access
(on your restricted access)

Dark, moody alt-pop with male vocals; pulsing sub-bass and sparse, detuned keys under the verses, then a sharp lift into a hook with tight drums, filtered vocal doubles, and eerie backing stacks; tension builds through the bridge with rising synth swells and a stuttered vocal chop, then drops to a half-time, echo-drenched final chorus