THE 15-SECOND LIE

Name: THE 15-SECOND LIE
Duration: 356 s
FriedGhostly
182 plays·0 likes·5:55
Prompt / Lyrics
[0:00] INTRO (THE LOOP)
(The "Video Sound" plays: A short, catchy guitar riff or vocal sample loops 4 times. Loop... Loop... Loop... Loop.)
(Audio of a tape rewinding: Whirrrrr-click.)
(Momo’s Voice: Expanding file...)
Yeah.
It’s too short, man.
Let’s run it back.
[0:20] CHORUS (THE SNIPPET)
(This is the part from the video, repeated and layered with harmony.)
I caught a vibe for a second, then it faded to black.
Now I’m running in circles, tryna get it all back.
It was fifteen seconds of a beautiful lie.
Now I’m watching it loop ‘til the day that I die.
(Loop it!)
Round and round we go.
(Loop it!)
Where we stop? I don’t know.
[0:50] VERSE 1: THE CRASH
I’m living life in a snippet, yeah, a clip on the screen
A short-term memory in a long-term dream
New Bern is the backdrop, Battle Creek is the source
But I’m stuck in the middle of a collision course.
I see Yasmine’s face in a flash of the light
Then it’s gone in an instant, swallowed up by the night
I try to hold onto the feeling, try to pause the display
But the time keeps slipping, yeah, it’s running away.
Scrubbing dishes at the Barrel, but my mind is a blur
Replaying that moment, yeah, I’m thinking of her.
(Is it Lauren? Is it Alexis?)
Man, the file is corrupt!
Every time I get close, yeah, the signal erupts!
[1:20] CHORUS (THE SNIPPET)
I caught a vibe for a second, then it faded to black.
Now I’m running in circles, tryna get it all back.
It was fifteen seconds of a beautiful lie.
Now I’m watching it loop ‘til the day that I die.
(Loop it!)
Round and round we go.
(Loop it!)
Where we stop? I don’t know.
[1:50] VERSE 2: THE EXPANSION
They say "keep it short," they say "keep it concise"
But I’m paying for the memories with a heavy price!
I need more than a minute! I need more than a reel!
I need to know if this emptiness is something I feel!
I’m stretching the audio, warping the pitch
I’m a wizard of the waveform, a son of a glitch
Got the guitar crying like a ghost in the shell
Turning fifteen seconds into a personal hell.
(Guitar Solo: Distorted, wobbly, "Steve Lacy" style. Simple but emotional.)
[2:20] BRIDGE: THE REWIND
(Music slows down. Deep, chopped vocals.)
Rewind the tape.
Play it again.
Don’t let it end.
Don’t let it end.
(Normal voice, desperate)
Why does the good stuff always go so fast?
Why does the pain be the only thing to last?
I’m pressing replay on the remote in my brain
Just to feel a little sunshine in the middle of rain!
[2:45] CHORUS (MAXIMUM VOLUME)
I caught a vibe for a second, then it faded to black!
Now I’m running in circles, tryna get it all back!
It was fifteen seconds of a beautiful lie!
Now I’m watching it loop ‘til the day that I die!
[3:15] OUTRO
(The loop plays one last time, but it starts to degrade and get static-y.)
(Momo’s voice)
File corrupted.
End of playlist.
Vitalis Codex... saving...
(The sound of a screen turning off: Click.)
[2:45] CHORUS (MAXIMUM VOLUME)
I caught a vibe for a second, then it faded to black!
Now I’m running in circles, tryna get it all back!
It was fifteen seconds of a beautiful lie!
Now I’m watching it loop ‘til the day that I die!
[3:15] VERSE 3: THE GOURMET GHOST
(Beat switches up. Drums get dry and dusty. Bass line walks slowly.)
Friday the 13th, yeah, the wallet was green
Ordered the goat cheese pizza, living the dream
Sat at the bar with a Modelo in hand
Trying to look like the king of the land.
Bradford on the pool table, Jayson in the back
But I’m feeling the static, yeah, I’m feeling the crack
Took a walk in the dark, let the wind hit my face
New Bern is a cage, man, all over the place!
I bought the expensive stuff, I bought the "Good Life"
But it feels like I’m cutting my soul with a knife!
The mushrooms, the garlic, the fancy vincotto?
Just a temporary fix for the Vitalis motto!
I’m full but I’m empty! I’m rich but I’m broke!
The "War Chest" is open, but it’s mostly just smoke!
I swallow the cheese, and I swallow the pride
But the hunger is screaming from the inside!
[3:55] SPOKEN WORD INTERLUDE: THE VOICEMAIL
(Music drops out completely. Just the hum of a refrigerator or a street lamp. Bzzzzz.)
(Graham’s voice, speaking into a phone memo, tired and honest.)
Yo.
It’s funny, right?
You work so hard for the check.
You get the check.
You buy the thing you wanted.
And then you sit there... eating it...
And you realize...
The happiness didn't come with the receipt.
It was sold separately.
And they’re out of stock.
(A lighter flicks. Click.)
Damn.
[4:25] FINAL CHORUS (SLOWED & REVERB)
(The chorus comes back, but it’s slow, deep, and dragging like it’s underwater.)
I caught a vibe... for a second...
(Where did it go?)
Then it faded... to black...
(Just like that.)
Now I’m running... in circles...
(Round and round.)
It was fifteen seconds... of a beautiful lie...
[5:00] OUTRO: THE LOOP DECAY
(The guitar riff loops, but gets quieter and more distorted each time.)
Loop it back.
Play it again.
Maybe this time it stays.
Maybe this time she stays.
Maybe this time I stay.
(Friedghostly whisper)
System... offline.
(The tape snaps. Pop.)
(Silence.)