Above the Avenue

[Куплет 1] I pour a lime twist for a woman named june Who just landed from denver and missed the last train A teacher in linen says, “mind if i join you?” He’s waiting on someone who’s circling again I wipe down the rail, keep the glasses in motion While the elevators spill out the after-work tide Then june asks the stranger what brought him to town And his shoulders come down as he tells her why [Алдынғы қайырма] One small hello, and the long day lets go The whole room turns a little less strange [Қайырма] Up here above the avenue Where the little lights begin to shine I pour the drinks, they trade their names And strangers find a place in time A toast goes round, a laugh takes flight Two separate worlds lean close tonight I keep the glasses moving through While the city gathers into view [Куплет 2] A woman in blue tells the man at the end She’s opening a bakery over on ninth He says his brother makes signs by hand She laughs, “tell him i’ve got a blank wall in mind” A couple of nurses, still wearing their badges Compare the oddest things people say when they’re tired The sax man by the stairwell tries out a soft phrase And somebody sings back, a little off-key, inspired [Алдынғы қайырма] No grand introductions, no promises made Just a few honest minutes, a good place to stay [Қайырма] Up here above the avenue Where the little lights begin to shine I pour the drinks, they trade their names And strangers find a place in time A toast goes round, a laugh takes flight Two separate worlds lean close tonight I keep the glasses moving through While the city gathers into view [Көпір] At closing, they leave in twos and threes With numbers on napkins, directions, new plans I stack up the glasses, still hearing their stories Like a map made of voices i carry downstairs [Final chorus] Up here above the avenue Where the little lights begin to shine I pour the drinks, they trade their names And strangers find a place in time A toast goes round, a laugh takes flight Two separate worlds lean close tonight I keep the glasses moving through While the city gathers into view [Аутро] I keep the glasses moving through While the city gathers into view