[Verse 1] Mom’s car taillights fade down the street “Stay out of the basement” on repeat Dad’s down there every night till two Green stains on his hands like a bad tattoo Dust on the photos in the upstairs hall Picture-perfect smile on the guy we recall But downstairs hums And the house runs cold Something’s growing wild in the dark below [Chorus] Stay out Stay out of the basement That’s what they said That’s what they meant But “Dad” came up with a plastic grin Smells like dirt and summer wind Stay out Stay out of the basement Every word feels like a replacement If you’re my father Look in my face Why do your eyes crawl like vines in a cage? [Verse 2] Breakfast burns But he doesn’t care He stares too long Doesn’t blink Just glares Sleeves pulled down past his wrist and thumb Hands too stiff Like they’ve gone numb He waters houseplants more than us these days Says our names wrong in a sideways way Laughs too loud at a broken joke Chokes on water but swallows smoke [Chorus] Stay out Stay out of the basement That’s what they said That’s what they meant But “Dad” came up with a plastic grin Smells like dirt and summer wind Stay out Stay out of the basement Every word feels like a replacement If you’re my father Look in my face Why do your eyes crawl like vines in a cage? [Bridge] We hear a voice beneath the floorboards (hey!) Muffled Angry Calling our names Two men yelling through the plaster Only one came up. Which one’s changed? We grip the door We break the rule Keys in hand We’re scared We’re cruel If he’s a stranger wearing his skin We’ll find the real one locked within [Chorus] Stay out Stay out of the basement That’s what they said That’s what they meant But “Dad” came up with a plastic grin Smells like dirt and summer wind Stay out Stay out of the basement Truth is twisted in the cement If you’re my father Prove you’re the same ‘Cause something green is answering to your name [Outro] Stay out Too late now Stay out We’re going down (oh yeah)

rock, Crunchy 2000s alt-rock guitars, tight power-chord riffs, driving bass. Male vocals with a slightly raspy edge, verses in a tense half-whisper that explode into a shout-along chorus. Drums hit with straight-ahead stomp; bridge drops to palm-muted suspense before a big final chorus with gang-vocal ad-libs.

Stay Out