I didn’t really have anything to show at the end of the skirmish, just a slightly longer version of the chorus lyrics, built around the core phrase “fall from grace,” to meet the skirmish suggestion of consecutive four-letter words beginning in F. Half of the first verse came hours later, but the emotional theme of the verses and the rest of the lyrics arrived the next morning.

[chorus] How many times Can you fall out of favor Before the scenes All blur together

How many times Can an angel lose face Till you see One long fall One long fall From grace

[verse 1] We walked each other To the water The lights were too bright One had to go forward Before the other It would not look right Can’t break the illusion A moment too soon when We know after all The source of a vision And one wrong decision To brace for the fall

[chorus] How many times Can you fall out of favor Before the scenes All blur together

Tell me How many times Can an angel lose face Till it becomes One long fall One long fall From grace

[verse 2] That spark when the mirror Shows us each other Confirms our worst fears The thought that one lover Only just whispers The other one hears The sad eyes’ reflection The soul’s misdirection The stereo sound A strike like lightning A heart that stopped flying And fell to the ground

[chorus] How many times Can you fall out of favor Before the scenes All blur together

Tell me How many times Can an angel lose face Till you see One long fall One long fall From grace