Dark Metal Ballad · Baritone Growl → Clean High Range) ⸻ Intro (Sparse piano – single low notes, long decay) Roadside… Dust and breath… No light… ⸻ Verse 1 (Low baritone – restrained, close-mic) I’ve been sitting by the roadside Longer than I know my name Listening to footsteps pass me Hearing mercy sound like shame They say I’m better off quiet They say I’ve taken enough But darkness don’t teach patience It only teaches how to beg for love ⸻ Pre-Chorus (Baritone rises – tension builds) I heard You coming through the noise Felt hope move through the ground If You really were the Son of David I wasn’t gonna stay shut down ⸻ Chorus (Clean vocal – wide, aching) Jesus, Son of David Have mercy on me I don’t need silver I don’t need to see who I used to be Jesus, Son of David I’m crying anyway They tried to silence my faith But I’m calling out your name ⸻ Verse 2 (Baritone with grit – drums enter, restrained) They told me, “Be quiet, stay seated” Said, “You don’t belong this way” But desperation don’t wait its turn And hope don’t ask permission to pray I threw my cloak to the roadside Everything I had left behind If You were passing through this moment I was done being blind ⸻ Pre-Chorus 2 (Half-growl → clean lift) I didn’t shout to make a scene I shouted ‘cause I couldn’t see Faith don’t whisper when it’s dying Faith screams to breathe ⸻ Chorus 2 (Full band – heavier, darker) Jesus, Son of David Have mercy on me I don’t need silver I don’t need to see who I used to be Jesus, Son of David I’m crying anyway They tried to silence my faith But I’m calling out your name ⸻ Bridge (Breakdown – growl, slow, crushing) BE QUIET! (pause) No. STAY DOWN! (longer pause) I cried louder. ⸻ Bridge 2 (Clean vocal – exposed, emotional peak) You stopped when I called You Like my voice broke through the dark You didn’t ask for explanations You just asked for my heart “What do you want Me to do?” You already knew my plea But You let me say it out loud So faith could finally breathe ⸻ Final Chorus (Massive swell – clean high range over crushing band) Jesus, Son of David You had mercy on me You didn’t pass by my darkness You stopped and let me see Jesus, Son of David I followed anyway Once I saw the light of Your face I never walked away ⸻ Outro (Instruments drop → piano + whisper) Your faith… Has healed you… (final piano note rings)

BARTIMAEUS (He Heard Me Anyway)