Lyrics
We opened up the wooden caseAnd laid the gears in rowsThe spring was split, the teeth were wornNo reason it should go
I marked the notes and played them backFive tones in simple timeThe melody was almost sweetUntil we heard behind
A scrape beneath the final noteA breath beneath the thirdWe filtered out the room and rainAnd nearly found a word
The box could not have made that soundThe tape could not explainSo I reversed the melodyAnd pressed the key again
Wind it back, turn it slowLet the hidden voices showWind it back, hear them riseSomething speaks between the lines
Five small notes become a doorEvery turn reveals one moreI thought the song was all we hadNow something answers from the black
The first voice sounded far awayThe second sounded nearThe third one said a single phraseToo broken yet to hear
We cleaned the track and raised the gainThe choir gathered shapeNot singing with the melodyBut begging it to stay
One sentence rose above the noiseFour words beneath the tone“Keep the music turning on”Then every channel groaned
WIND IT BACKPLAY IT AGAINCOUNT EVERY VOICEBENEATH THE FRAME
THEY ARE NOT CALLINGUS TO COME INTHEY ARE BEGGINGTHE SONG NOT TO END
Wind it back, turn it slowNow we know what waits belowWind it back, hear them riseEvery voice behind the chimes
Five small notes are holding fastSomething buried in the pastI thought the box was calling usNow I think it keeps something shut
We wound the broken spring by handThe melody returnedAcross the lake the water movedAnd every streetlight burned
