First to Soften

[Intro: aggressive riddim bass, 7/8 guitar riff]

[Verse 1: clipped rhythmic baritone]
A crowded street, a traffic light
Someone cuts me off tonight
My jaw gets tight, my fingers curl
Another little fight against the world

[Pre-Chorus: instruments suddenly drop]
But anger only multiplies
When everybody pays it twice

[Chorus: explosive major-key melody]
I'll be the first to soften
The first to let it go
Not every little battle
Needs another heavy blow
I can break the chain of anger
Before it travels through
And maybe someone else tomorrow
Will remember what to do

[Break: slap bass, glitch edits, tom crescendo]

[Verse 2: warm melodic shift]
At the counter someone's shaking
While the line begins to groan
I say, "Take your time, it's alright"
And the tension starts to go

[Bridge: dramatic half-time]
Gentleness is not defeat
It's strength that doesn't need to beat

[Final Chorus: soaring harmonies]
I'll be the first to soften
When the world begins to burn
And send a little patience
Down every road I turn

[Outro: bass riff resolves to major]