The style and the chord progression & melody feel absolutely perfect for @stephenwordsmith's always cerebral and artful lyrics. Wonderful touch on the vocals--so much finesse to make each word feel carefully considered and delivered. Definitely had an eastern European vibe so when "Budapest" comes in late, it's kind of a delicious payoff. Terrific collaboration here, gents.

I'm surprised you've never had a collab before. It seems like an inevitable marriage of sorts. Loving the gypsy waltz style of this especially with those touches of wheezy accordion.

You always have great progressions, but this one appears to be a level or two above. And yet your vocal wraps around it beautifully. Such a great sway to this, like a sea shanty. The pregnant pauses between sections is really cool

somehow it seems obvious you two would collaborate. not sure I can exactly explain it it just is! something in your art perhaps. I think the 3/4 nails it Mike. it's a story almost too hard to comprehend. a marvellous collaboration.

oo no apologies needed here MIke surely. You have managed to set these beautifully powerful lyrics to some really deep intriguing music , adore the chord changes and the 3 time plucking works a treat. its so delivate and yet so powerful at the same time. Truly powerful lyrics, and a great collab guys

The contrasts between the major and minor was very effective. It gave me the feel of people sitting at a cafe gazing out at the street, knowing that this was the end of their relationship.

A word on 'daintiness': Yes, this is a song set against the backdrop of some of humanity's darkest hours. The characters bear wounds that are still fresh and have scars in the heart that will never heal. But it's also a song about a humble being reunited with a life and love he thought he'd left behind - modest as it all may be, it was everything good about existence for him. And there's now the improbable chance of having it back, at least to some degree, despite all that has come to pass. It's an unassuming encounter on an unassuming day in the middle of a life that could only hope to be unassuming. It is going to take a while for reality to set in. Daintiness, for whatever that means in this song, is perfect.

The 3/4 time and accordion accent paint the scene so well. It's very Europe circa 1947, in fair Budapest where we set out scene.

I also would contend that anything from the bridge is 'missing'. I think it says all it needs to - we know they've been through hell and we can tell from everything else that they've found themselves in a better place now. The trouble about the lyricist working from the context of silence takes shot is that it's sometimes hard to know when to stop. In my opinion, you made the better choice.

I do think your performance justifies my word choices, though. Sometimes I listen to a finished collab and wish I'd approached certain words, lines or even verses differently. Didn't feel that for a single syllable here.

One final observation: Another, very different version of this song exists. That one has the title 'I thought I'd die', which is the line that comes across most strongly with that one. I felt the fear and all the narrator had been through. With this one it's the 'once more' - the sheer improbability of having back the precious little that once was lost, against all odds.

This is a beautiful song and I've been listening to it all day. Thank you, Mike.

This lyrical story is beautiful and heartbreaking and just so well made. And the simple guitar/vocal delivery carry the hope and the grief.

Fantastic collab! Love it!

What interesting chords spiced in here! I love love love the tender waltzing vocal delivery as well! The accordion (?) nice touch! Really enjoyed listening to this 💚

The stripped-down guitar and voice has the perfect vibe for this time period and storyline. Tragic and romantic. Well done!

Wow. This is a collab that was not only meant to be, but needs to continue! Mike has taken Stephen's incredible lyrics and elevated them even more. Love the waltz time and melodic treatment. This is the way these lyrics needed to be sung.

Wow indeed! Chilling lyrics and performance. Love that diminished chord driving tension at the end of the verse and the way it flips seemlessly from minor and major. This is a gripping piece of storytelling and something unfortunately quite familiar in my family. You've both told the subject well, with humanity and humility. Great work.

WOW. Just wow. This is literature -- I expect great things from @stephenwordsmith but this is above even that high bar.

Don't doubt yourself, Mike. The nylon strings in waltz time and your gentle tenor are the perfect accompaniment for this. The little organ/accordion touches are just right.

Would that the people who commit these atrocities have the humanity and empathy to ever have the nightmares conveyed by this song.

Again, wow, this lyric. It does not please me to have also used "work makes you free" in a song this month, because it means its on a lot of our hearts.

I read this lyric and got it, but now hearing it set to this music, I GET it. Even with half the bridge missing, the point is well conveyed. Beautiful music for a touching lyric!