Hope It's Loud

Verse

The woman at the front had both hands up.

I knew her by the way she sang.

She used to knock against the ceiling

When we rehearsed above the laundromat.

She caught me looking, mouthed, "Keep going."

Same finger she used to point upstairs.

I nearly missed my own damn entrance.

Of all the people standing there.

Prechorus

She caught me loading out at midnight,

Said, "You always quit before the end."

I said, "You used to beg us to."

She said, "Well, people change."

(News to me)

Chorus

I hope it's loud!

I hope it wakes you up.

I spent half my life apologising

For the only thing I loved.

If you hear us from the pavement,

Come and sing the wrong words proud.

I hope you get home smiling.

I hope they tell you, "Turn it down."

(Turn it up!)

Verse

She said, "I worked at six, remember?

You lot could barely play in time."

I said, "We got a better drummer."

She said, "I heard. I bought it twice."

Then she asked me for a set list.

I tore mine off the stage.

She said, "You never played the last one."

I said, "That one scares me."

She said, "Play it anyway."

Chorus

I hope it's loud!

I hope it wakes you up.

I spent half my life apologising

For the only thing I loved.

If you hear us from the pavement,

Come and sing the wrong words proud.

I hope you get home smiling.

I hope they tell you, "Turn it down."

(Let 'em knock!)

Bridge

I wrote that song at seventeen,

Sang it low so no one knew.

She'd heard it through the floorboards.

She knew the second verse, too.

I said, "You never told me."

She said, "You never asked."

Then she handed back the set list.

"Next time, don't leave off the last."

Solo

Breakdown

Next Friday.

Same place.

Bring whoever.

Yes, that one.

From the top.

Final Chorus

I hope it's loud!

I hope it shakes the floor.

There's a verse I used to whisper.

You can shout it back for more.

If you hear us from the pavement,

Come inside and help us out.

And if she points up at the ceiling—

That's her asking for it loud.

(Louder!)

Outro

She said, "I still get up at six."

I said, "You coming Friday?"

"Obviously."