Second Thoughts

“DON’T MAKE ME CHOOSE”

Genre: Contemporary R&B / Southern Hip-Hop
Vibe: Sexy, emotional, complicated, confident, late-night, toxic-but-real
Vocals: Male + female duet
Tempo: ~88 BPM
Production: Dark, atmospheric R&B production with warm electric piano, distant guitar textures, deep 808/sub-bass, crisp drums, subtle vocal chops, and space around the vocals. The verses stay intimate and restrained; the pre-chorus gradually builds; the chorus opens up with bigger drums, bass, layered harmonies, and soaring vocals. The rap section strips the beat down before the final chorus hits hard.

INTRO — FEMALE

(soft, almost whispered)

I know I said I was done...

But you know me better than that.

(pause)

You still got that effect on me.

VERSE 1 — FEMALE

I deleted your number, still know it by heart
Funny how goodbye never really means apart
I can tell everybody that I'm better alone
Then your name lights my phone and I'm halfway home

We got history written all over these scars
You know exactly where they are
I know exactly what you hide
So why we keep pretending we're alright?

You say you don't need me
I say I don't need you
But every time we get close
We do what we always do

PRE-CHORUS — FEMALE

Maybe we're bad for each other
Maybe we're scared of somebody better
Maybe it's pride, maybe it's pain
But every road I take leads back your way

(harmony enters)

And I don't wanna lie...

CHORUS — BOTH

Don't make me choose between my heart and my pride
'Cause I lose either way when you're not by my side
You can walk out the door, say we're better apart
But you can't take your fingerprints off my heart

Don't make me choose, don't make me choose
'Cause loving you feels like something I can't lose
We can fight, we can run, we can say we're through
But when the night gets quiet...

I still come back to you.

(Male ad-lib: “Back to you...”)

(Female harmony: “I come back...”)

VERSE 2 — MALE

Yeah...

I ain't gon' act like I ain't part of the problem
You wanted communication, I gave you silence
You wanted reassurance, I gave you distance
Then wondered why you stopped believing in us

I know I got a heart, I just don't show it right
Been fighting with myself every damn night
You see the worst in me, I see the best in you
That's probably why leaving never follows through

You tell your friends that you don't miss me
I know that's a lie
'Cause if I call at two in the morning
You still pick up on the first try

We ain't perfect
We ain't easy
But baby, what's perfect anyway?
If I lose you, I lose something
I don't know how to replace

PRE-CHORUS — MALE + FEMALE

MALE:
Maybe we're bad for each other...

FEMALE:
Maybe we're scared of forever...

MALE:
Maybe I hurt you more than I meant to...

FEMALE:
Maybe I pushed when I should've let you...

BOTH:
But every time we say goodbye
We end up right back here tonight.

CHORUS — BOTH

Don't make me choose between my heart and my pride
'Cause I lose either way when you're not by my side
You can walk out the door, say we're better apart
But you can't take your fingerprints off my heart

Don't make me choose, don't make me choose
'Cause loving you feels like something I can't lose
We can fight, we can run, we can say we're through
But when the night gets quiet...

I still come back to you.

BRIDGE — FEMALE

Maybe love ain't supposed to be easy
Maybe we're learning while we're bleeding
Maybe forgiveness ain't forgetting
Maybe we're worth another beginning