Loving a Porcupine
Tense alt-pop with clipped sub-bass, dry rimshot clicks, and a one-note staccato guitar motif driving forward like a pursuit. Deadpan vocal delivery sits close-miked over sparse verse space, then pre-chorus opens with rising synth tension, distorted percussion accents, and tight sidechain compression for a breathless, barely-ahead feel.
Loving a Porcupine
Tense alt-pop with clipped sub-bass, dry rimshot clicks, and a one-note staccato guitar motif driving forward like a pursuit. Deadpan vocal delivery sits close-miked over sparse verse space, then pre-chorus opens with rising synth tension, distorted percussion accents, and tight sidechain compression for a breathless, barely-ahead feel.
Lyrics
Verse
Coffee stains on your sleeve
territory, you said
A catalog that exists
in the back of your head
Apologies filed
never signed, never sent
You ration affection down
to half a percent
Deadpan delivery, surgical tone
You prefer the rooms where you’re fully alone
“Stay back,” you say, “you’re not built for this”
As we hover right there at the edge of a kiss
Oh...
Pre-Chorus
Your Rules change mid-sentence...
But I’m still listening...
Chorus
Careful, Careful
don’t touch, don’t rush, don’t try
Careful, Careful
step back, step in, step wide
Careful, Careful
I know, I know the line
I’m loving a porcupine
Careful, Careful
hands off, hands up, hands tied
Careful, Careful
say less, say more, say why
Careful, Careful
the red flags shine
I’m loving a porcupine
Verse
All of your warmth is on a short-term lease
Quilled up in the quiet, it's a painful peace
You hand me the rind, keep the center for you
Watching what I do with the bitters you choose
Yeah...
You've been auditin' my patience, taxing my time
You circle the exit when I call you mine
You never say sorry, you just change the scene
You'd rather cut to the part where you stay unseen
Oh...
Chorus
Careful, Careful
don’t touch, don’t rush, don’t try
Careful, Careful
step back, step in, step wide
Careful, Careful
I know, I know the line
I’m loving a Porcupine
Careful, Careful
hands off, hands up, hands tied
Careful, Careful
say less, say more, say why
Careful, Careful
The red flags shine
I’m loving a porcupine
Bridge
You call for control as I meander your maze
You dim the lights to study the haze
You never do soft, deadbolts on your doors
Leave me to peek through the crack, lying flat on the floor.
There’s a version of you that almost cares
It hides in the dark, counting out the days
I don’t need perfect, I don’t need clean
Just let that version be seen
Careful… careful…
I’m not leaving
Final Chorus
Careful, Careful
don’t touch, don’t rush, don’t try
Careful, Careful
step back, step in, step wide
Careful, Careful
I know, I know the line
I’m still loving a porcupine
Careful, Careful
hands off, hands up, hands tied
Careful, Careful
say less, say more, say why
Careful, Careful
The red flags shine
I’m still loving a porcupine
Yeah...