Asphalt Ghost

*(Verse 1 - Slow, rolling guitar like tires on gravel)* Dusty wheels hum a dead man’s tune, Yellow lines stretch like a broken noose. Windows down, let the desert scream, First time I’ve breathed since I was seventeen. (Pre-Chorus - Bass rumbles like a storm) Daddy’s belt sang a lullaby, Mama’s tears were cheap red wine. Uncle Harry’s shadow on my door— "Good girls don’t scream…" (but I do now) (Chorus - Explosive, unhinged) "I’M THE GHOST, I’M THE SMOKE, MOTEL BIBLE WITH THE PAGES TORN! RUNNING FAST, RUNNING COLD, TELL THE DEVIL HE CAN HAVE MY SOUL!" *(Verse 2 - Haunting, detuned guitar slides)* New Mexico’s got a purple sky, Radio preaches ’bout the end of time. I count the scars like mile markers glow— "Three for him… one for Joe…" (Pre-Chorus - Whispered, then screamed) Found my freedom in a .38’s grin, His last words were "You’ll never win—" (gunshot echo in the drums) (Chorus - More chaotic, feedback-drenched) "I’M THE GHOST, I’M THE SMOKE, MOTEL BIBLE WITH THE PAGES TORN! RUNNING FAST, RUNNING COLD, TELL THE DEVIL HE CAN HAVE MY SOUL!" (Bridge - Spoken word over dissonant picking, à la Bukowski) "…steel in my lap like a lover’s hand… …prayed to the crows to bury the man… …they’ll find his bones where the highways crack… …but they’ll never drag me baaaaack…" (Outro - Slow, dying) Two days north where the pines turn black, Engine coughs—"No going back." The rearview shows a flashing light… "Yeah officer… he’s buried right…"