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Words from the artist’s archive
One More Plate lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
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Verse 1
Four a.m. the coals still breathing from the night before the sky broke Scrape the black off the grate with the blade I keep in the drawer by the smoke Rain came last week like the turnpike threw buckets at the fence line Meat turned on me before the first headlight even kissed the sign Mama call from the house asking if the generator still coughing up gray I say it holding but the truth is every spark fighting to stay Rival two blocks over with the big tent and the Bluetooth thumping hard I still hold the corner by the shelter where the night shift workers card They know the portion heavy, the bread extra, the foil tucked tight like a secret Even when the till light I still send one with the shorty whose power been out for the weekend Phone buzz again, this time the bank app saying the deposit late again I swipe it away, fire another log, the smoke rise like it got its own plan The lot floods quick when the rain come sideways off the avenue But the blue tarp hold, the pit stay hot, the line still form two by two Gig money dried up when the warehouse cut the shift without a call I turned the rusted pit into the only thing that answer when I call Corner store run for matches and the cheap coffee in the styrofoam cup I-95 horns in the background while the meat thaw in the trunk
Pre-chorus
Sky split open, drops hit the grease and start to dance Line start to slow, the smoke get thick like it got plans County man on the line, permit talk, pen tapping in the background I hear the clock in his voice, feel the fine coming down
Chorus
One more plate One more plate Even when the rain try to drown the flame One more plate We still move the line slow One more plate
Verse 2
Shorty from the building show up with quarters and a empty stomach look I pass the plate anyway, tell him catch me on the next book He nod like the debt bigger than the change in his palm Old head on the crate nod back like he seen the same calm Rival turn the music up, bass shaking the fence But the smell from my coals make the feet disobey the sense Health man came with the clipboard and the fine that ate the week I almost killed the fire, almost packed the tent, almost let the rain speak But the stack of foil by the door say somebody still need the window lit The other side of the lot still got mouths that the regular spots miss Crews that used to post up now wait their turn without a word Hunger make the beef take a number when the smoke is what they heard Old head say the grate he brought fit perfect on the pit tonight Shorty brought his brother, both of them eating under the same light Court date on the calendar but the window still open at five Rain or shine the line form, the smoke rise, the crews stay alive
Bridge
Almost let the county win that week Almost let the rain put the coals to sleep But the shorty brought his brother, old head brought a better grate Now the line stretch longer when the sky stay gray and the crews don't debate They wait their turn by the smoke, pass the plate to the back Hunger make the beef take a number, at least for one night the block relax
Chorus
One more plate One more plate Fire still burning through the gray One more plate The window stay open One more plate
Inside the recording
Four a.m. the coals still breathing from the night before the sky broke Scrape the black off the grate with the blade I keep in the drawer by the smoke
Sky split open, drops hit the grease and start to dance Line start to slow, the smoke get thick like it got plans
One more plate One more plate
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.