You wipe the counter down with rag stained brown
The grill still hisses from the lunch rush crowd
Outside the window dusk turns purple now
A violin wakes up on iron bow
Fire escape violin sings soft and sweet
Summer dusk brings down a melody
Fire escape violin cuts through the heat
You tap your broom handle keeping steady beat
Old Mrs. Chen orders pie at nine
Her usual cherry with the lattice top
The bow drags slow across the G-string line
Each note drips honey where the music stops
Fire escape violin sings soft and sweet
Summer dusk brings down a melody
Fire escape violin cuts through the heat
You tap your broom handle keeping steady beat
The dishwasher kid leans out back door screen
He lights a cigarette and blows a ring
The violinist plays what might have been
A lullaby for dented guitar string
Fire escape violin sings soft and sweet
Summer dusk brings down a melody
Fire escape violin cuts through the heat
You tap your broom handle keeping steady beat
Radio static mixes with the tune
Ketchup bottles catch the fading light
You hum along while sweeping up the room
The night shift feels like something almost right
Grease traps gurgle counterpoint to strings
Coffee pots percussion on the beat
Every regular knows what midnight brings
But tonight the melody makes the coffee sweet
First bus pulls up at five AM sharp
The violinist packs the case in silk
You flip the sign to closed wipe down the chart
Tomorrow's special written up in chalk
Fire escape violin sings soft and sweet
Summer dusk brings down a melody
Fire escape violin cuts through the heat
You tap your broom handle keeping steady beat
Fire escape violin hums in your dreams
Next shift you'll hear it in the coffee steam
Iron bars still vibrate when you lock
Rag goes back in bucket water gray
Tomorrow's dusk brings back the violin track
You'll wipe the counter down to start the day
