A Recipe Retold

[Куплет 1] By the old rail yard, the food trucks line the avenue Copper pans are singing; every painted sign is new I turn the flatbread, hear the cumin start to bloom Then you lean across the counter: “what’s that taste like?” “Come on through.” [Алдынғы қайырма] My grandfather taught me, with a pinch and a grin, You start with what you know, then let the new things in. [Қайырма] Take a little journey, take a plate and pass it round Chile, lime, and toasted seeds, all dancing in the sound These are the flavors i was handed, this is what i make them do Every curious face gets a taste of where i’m coming from to you [Куплет 2] A kid asks for the bright red sauce; i say, “try a little first” She comes back for another spoon, says, “that one’s not the worst!” Two old friends compare their bites, then trade their favorite names And someone starts a happy debate about who makes the best tamales [Алдынғы қайырма] I fold in something unexpected, let the old notes play A recipe can travel and still know where it came from today. [Қайырма] Take a little journey, take a plate and pass it round Chile, lime, and toasted seeds, all dancing in the sound These are the flavors i was handed, this is what i make them do Every curious face gets a taste of where i’m coming from to you [Көпір] My mother’s careful hands live on in how i season slow My uncle’s sunday stories ride the steam above the stove But this new crowd brings something i could never plan alone— A squeeze of citrus, one bright herb, and suddenly it’s home [Final chorus] Take a little journey, take a plate and pass it round Chile, lime, and toasted seeds, all dancing in the sound These are the flavors i was handed, now there’s room for something new Every curious face gets a taste—and leaves a little with me too [Аутро] Last order, one more grin, one more story to unfold A little heat, a little heart, a recipe retold