(mmm... hmm...)

[Verse 1]
Andrew's on the beach, he's drawing a house
He just bought his freedom, I paused him there
One hour, twenty-five minutes, thirty-two
I don't know when I'll press play again
Could be Tuesday
Could be March

[Chorus]
This is fermata
Hold the note as long as you like
This is fermata
The movie isn't going anywhere
No one is waiting on the other side of play

[Verse 2]
I have a shelf of paused men and women
Frozen mid-sentence, frozen mid-turn
A whole collection of almost-endings
Each one a door I left ajar
I'll be back, I told them
[spoken, aside] eventually

[Pre-Chorus]
[whispered]
You can only do this alone
You can only do this alone

[Chorus]
This is fermata
Hold the note as long as you like
This is fermata
The movie isn't going anywhere
No one is waiting on the other side of play

[Bridge]
[half time, cello enters]
Couples watch a film as one transaction
Start to credits, a single verdict
I watch mine in seasons
I watch mine in weather
Tonight my train of thought
has somewhere else to be
And the pause button is a small domestic god
A household deity
for one

[Verse 3]
[tempo returns, brushed drums back]
Goodnight Andrew
I'll come back for you
Maybe when it rains
Maybe when I'm braver
Maybe never
And that's also allowed
That's the whole point

[Final Chorus]
[harmony enters]
This is fermata
Hold the note as long as you like
This is fermata
Freedom scored in pauses
Freedom scored in pauses

[Outro]
[sparse guitar only, pad fades]
One hour
Twenty-five
Thirty-two
[Fade Out]