About the song
A story for this song hasn’t been added yet.
Words from the artist’s archive
TRANSFER lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
Read the lyric sheet
Intro
Six in the morning, I sign and I'm gone Whole city still dark, but my night already long
Verse 1
Badge still warm, ID swinging on the cord Jackson at my back, NW Twelfth so cold Bus pull up slow, I fold my transfer, board Window seat in the back, the one nobody want Head against the window, let the engine hum Six o'clock light coming, I'm already done
Pre-chorus
Streetlights cutting off, one, then one I'm winding all the way down while it all begun
Chorus
Transfer in my hand, dawn on the glass, on the glass Let it be low, let it be quiet, be quiet I held the night so the block could sleep Now let me get home 'fore the city wake, city wake low, low, amen
Post-chorus
low... low... let it be quiet low... low... let me get home
Verse 2
By Twenty-Seventh the sun crack the block Cafecito window lifting up they lock School bus yellow, sprinkler on the grass Everybody starting while I'm running on my last Somebody Monday just now opening they eye Mine closing soft on a shaker and a sigh
Pre-chorus
Streetlights cutting off, one, then one I'm winding all the way down while it all begun
Chorus
Transfer in my hand, dawn on the glass, on the glass Let it be low, let it be quiet, be quiet I held the night so the block could sleep Now let me get home 'fore the city wake, city wake low, low, amen
Post-chorus
low... low... let it be quiet low... low... let me get home
Verse 3
Bed nine made it, bed twelve I don't know Squeezed a hand at three, told him hold on, hold Monitor green, I counted every tone World had its eyes closed, somebody hold the phone I don't bring it on the bus, leave it at the door But it ride a couple stops with me, maybe more
Bridge
I ain't asking for a lot Just a quiet key in a quiet lock Just the kettle low, just her little chest going up and down on the cot I gave the dark my two hands Let me give the morning what I got I held the night so the block could sleep, that's all, that's all
Verse 4
Now I'm close, the NW streets going gold Turning the key in my mind, soft and slow Let the screen door hush, let the dog stay low Let her stay in the dream, don't let the hinge tell on me Let tonight be the kind that don't need me at all Quiet little house and a phone that don't call
Verse 5
Step off at my stop, daylight hit me full Transfer still folded, soft in my palm, still whole Birds loud now, the whole block wide awake Only thing slowing down is me as the morning take I made it, I made it, sun up over Carol City Eyes heavy, chest easy, let the day go on without me let it be quiet now... transfer in my hand
Pre-chorus
Streetlights all gone now, sun doing the rest All the way down now, tired and blessed
Chorus
Transfer in my hand, dawn on the glass, on the glass Let it be low, let it be quiet, be quiet I held the night so the block could sleep Now let me get home 'fore the city wake, city wake low, low, amen
Outro
Transfer in my hand, sun on the glass Let it be quiet, amen
Inside the recording
Six in the morning, I sign and I'm gone Whole city still dark, but my night already long
Streetlights cutting off, one, then one I'm winding all the way down while it all begun
Transfer in my hand, sun on the glass Let it be quiet, amen
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.