Gravel in the Crosswalk

Verse 1

The blue sign flickers when the bus pulls in at 6 AM

Patel's awnings still folded wet from yesterday's rain

I pressed my thumb to the laminate and watched the window fog

Somebody's daughter on the bench counting loose change

The crossing guard knows my face and never asks my name

She's got a whistle on a nylon cord and creased skin

I think she lost somebody too but I won't pry

The sprinklers cut the corner patch and hit the chain-link fence

Coda

Gravel in the crosswalk

Gravel in the crosswalk

Gravel in the crosswalk

Sun comes up gray

Verse 2

The attendant at the garage lets me through with a nod

I still wear the same jacket from the winter of the layoff

Stained cuff and a snapped zipper I fixed with a paperclip

In the stairwell somebody's stereo leaked Spanish guitar

I don't take the shortcut through the church lot anymore

The deacon moved the floodlights and I ain't got the story straight

A man collects the cans along the bike path every Thursday

We trade the same two words and never make a point

Coda

Gravel in the crosswalk

Gravel in the crosswalk

Gravel in the crosswalk

Sun comes up gray

Verse 3

Phone booth's gone but there's still wire at the corner store

I dial seven digits out of habit then I hang up slow

The kid who sells the metro tickets knows my schedule now

He told me once his father fishes dawn off the second pier

Last Tuesday I sat two seats from the window and let the light

Do that thing it does across the plastic table lines

Somebody's number on a napkin I folded into fourths

Mouth the words I'd never say if I had the nerve

Coda

Gravel in the crosswalk

Gravel in the crosswalk

Gravel in the crosswalk

Sun comes up gray

Outro

Mm

Mm-hmm

Gravel in the crosswalk