I sit beneath the jazz club floor
Beside the heavy iron door
I smell the smoke and old rye gin
Where the midnight songs begin
Rub the leather till it glows
That is how the rhythm goes
Keeping pace with every beat
Guarding all those dancing feet
A velvet heel a scuffed up toe
I watch the golden trumpet blow
The brassy notes shake every wall
While I wait for a customer call
Rub the leather till it glows
That is how the rhythm goes
Keeping pace with every beat
Guarding all those dancing feet
I feel the bass line in my wood
I keep the edges looking good
A steady hand a patient eye
As the saxophone begins to cry
Rub the leather till it glows
That is how the rhythm goes
Keeping pace with every beat
Guarding all those dancing feet
The city screams above the grate
But down here I can afford to wait
I scrub the salt and city grime
One slow stroke at a time
The lights go dim the crowd departs
The music stops in lonely hearts
I polish one last wingtip shoe
Until the morning sky turns blue
Rub the leather till it glows
That is how the rhythm goes
Keeping pace with every beat
Guarding all those dancing feet
Just a brush and a bit of wax. Keep it smooth.
Keep it slow.
