[Intro]
Static in the speaker
Coffee on his badge
Midnight in the locker room
Hands still shake from the last call
[Verse 1]
Clock hits twelve
He’s still stuck at six
Six shots, six months
Still tastes metal and bricks
Body cam flicker in the back of his brain
Every siren that sings sounds the same as that day
Armored heart
But his grip still slips
Hallway echo, every step tightens his chest
Blue shirt, blood stain he can’t forget
He’s home, but he’s still at the threat
[Chorus]
“Help an officer”
Cracks through the static, drags him back in
“Help an officer”
Pulse like a hammer in his ears again
He’s screaming, “Ten-four”
But the ghosts talk louder than the call sign
“Help an officer”
He’s running through a war that’s only in his mind
[Verse 2]
Radio bark, then a voice, then a scream
He’s already up, but he’s stuck in the scene
Boots on tile, but he feels that glass
From the last bad night cutting into his past
Rapid breath, rapid rap in his head
“I’m here, I’m here” but he’s welded to the bed
Dispatch numbers blur, words turn red
Prayers in his throat, taste like lead
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[low vocal register]
Hallway. Doorframe. Kitchen light
Gun safe. Gun safe. Can’t get right
Back-up never came that night
So he’s still that backup, locked in the fight
[crescendo]
He barks his code, tries to steady his aim
But the sound of his name hits the same old flame
“Stay with me, stay with me”—echo in his skull
Every empty seat in roll call feels full
[guitar solo]
[Chorus]