Here's to the Stories

[Verse 1] By seven, the brass rail's got a shine to it The friday crowd rolls in with the avenue A union rep tells a story with both hands A nurse laughs, says, “you should’ve seen the man” Two old classmates recognize each other One says, “you still owe me for that summer” I keep the glasses moving, let them talk Every little tale gets room to walk [Pre-Chorus] I raise a glass, they raise one back The whole place finds its own good track [Chorus] Here’s to the stories poured tonight To the almosts, the firsts, the wrong turns right Every toast has a name and a reason to stay A little bit of somebody’s life on display So pass it around, let the good words roll From the far end of the bar to the heart of the room Here’s to the stories, every one of them true Friday keeps telling me something new [Verse 2] A cabbie swears he drove a senator incognito A grad student draws her thesis on a coaster The tailor’s got a punchline no one saw coming The whole back row goes quiet, then they’re laughing A couple celebrates a shop they just got open The shy one at the corner finally joins in I know who likes it neat, who takes it slow And which old friends need one more round before they go [Pre-Chorus] I raise a glass, they raise one back The whole place finds its own good track [Chorus] Here’s to the stories poured tonight To the almosts, the firsts, the wrong turns right Every toast has a name and a reason to stay A little bit of somebody’s life on display So pass it around, let the good words roll From the far end of the bar to the heart of the room Here’s to the stories, every one of them true Friday keeps telling me something new [Bridge] Last call comes softly, but nobody rushes One final toast and the room hushes A woman says, “i made it through the year” Her friends lean close; i hear the cheer I’ve served a thousand nights like this Still, every table leaves me something i’ll miss [Final chorus] Here’s to the stories poured tonight To the almosts, the firsts, the wrong turns right Every toast has a name and a reason to stay A little bit of somebody’s life on display So pass it around, let the good words roll From the far end of the bar to the heart of the room Here’s to the stories, every one of them true Friday keeps telling me something new [Outro] Every toast has a story And tonight, they all came through