Keep or Leave

Intro

Mm

Ya leil

Mm-hmm

Oh-oh

Verse 1

Mama kept the shop on the corner of two streets

I stacked the tins in rows and priced the olive oil

She taught me how to count in two languages

Seven years I never asked her why

Pre-Chorus

Then a letter came with a stamp I didn't know

And she folded it small and put it in her coat

I saw her hands go still

I saw her not explain

Chorus

Habibti she said don't carry what I carried

Habibti the road bends farther than you see

I was counting jars

I was counting years

Habibti she said it's yours to keep or leave

Post-Chorus

Ya habibi

Ya habibi

Oh-oh-oh

Verse 2

I found the tin behind the flour with her name

Sixty letters tied in string she never sent

The first one said I miss the water where I grew

The last one said I'm glad I never went

Pre-Chorus

And my whole life I thought she stayed because she wanted

Every evening she was tired but she smiled

Something in me tilted

Something in me opened wide

Chorus

Habibti she said don't carry what I carried

Habibti the road bends farther than you see

I was counting jars

I was counting years

Habibti she said it's yours to keep or leave

Bridge

Mama

You gave me the shop and the two languages

You kept the sea inside a metal tin

I'm not angry anymore

I'm just seeing where you've been

Sitti you were braver than the young ones

Instrumental Journey

Final Chorus

Habibti I said I'll carry what you carried

Habibti the road bends farther than we see

I am counting jars

I am counting years

Habibti you said it's mine to keep or leave

Outro

Ya leil

Ya leil

I keep it

I keep it