Sandglass.

[Intro: filtered pad chords, soft sub bass, distant desert wind. 8 bars.] [Verse 1: deep male vocal, intimate, close mic. Minimal drums: kick on 1 and 3, soft hi-hat. Oud plucks single notes.] The clock ticks softly in the sand I trace the lines of your hand We built a home of hollow stones Now I'm walking this road alone [Pre-Chorus: drums build with darbuka pattern. Synth arpeggio enters. Vocal more intense.] Ya leil, ya leil... Hold me closer to the ache [Chorus: full beat. Heavy 808 kick, crisp snare, bass pulse wide. Oud plays maqam melody. Female wordless vocal "ahh" floats over.] We're falling through the hourglass Nothing moves, nothing lasts Just the echo in the dark A fading beat, a broken arc [Verse 2: sub bass returns, filtered pad. Vocal slightly more distorted, still calm.] You told me stories in the rain Promises that leave a stain Now all I have is this refrain A silent loop, a frozen chain [Pre-Chorus: same build. Darbuka, arpeggio, vocal intensity.] Ya leil, ya leil... Hold me closer to the ache [Chorus: full beat again, same arrangement. Repeat full lyrics.] We're falling through the hourglass Nothing moves, nothing lasts Just the echo in the dark A fading beat, a broken arc [Bridge: breakdown – only oud and voice (vocal with tape saturation and vinyl crackle). No drums. 8 bars. Then sub bass rebuilds with low pass filter sweep.] What if the sand just runs away? What if dawn forgets the day? I'll keep the rhythm in my veins Through all the loss, through all the stains [Build: riser, synth sweep, drums rebuild, female vocal chop "ya" stuttered.] [Chorus: final, full energy. Oud melody doubles vocal. Female vocal echoes last line with "ahh". Full lyrics again.] We're falling through the hourglass Nothing moves, nothing lasts Just the echo in the dark A fading beat, a broken arc [Outro: beat drops to kick on 1 only, sub bass fades. Oud plays final notes. Desert wind returns. Abrupt cut to silence.]