Kitchen Table Hymnal

Tracks

1. 1. Cruising Slow on a Dead Streetlight RoadThe substation burned and the whole town went dark, so we cruised Main with nothing but headlights. It was the best night of that summer.blackout cruise, smooth americana3:23
2. 2. Quiet Hands, Full HeartsShe is up before the rooster, hands in the dough by five. I wrote it for every woman who ever fed a town.bakery folk, melancholy americana3:20
3. 3. Cicadas Know the WordsThe cicadas know all the words and they are not shy. I sat on the porch and let them lead.summer-night country, dreamy twang4:04
4. 4. Mrs. Okafor's Piano RoomPlastic on the sofa and a metronome ticking slow in Mrs. Okafor's front room. She taught half the street to play.piano-room country, joyful twang3:53
5. 5. One Minute Before I KnockI stood on your porch with my hat gone soft in my hands and a whole speech I forgot. It is one minute I will never lose.porch-step americana, hopeful folk4:08
6. 6. Ceiling Fan HoneyHeat sat down on the county like it paid the rent. We lay under the ceiling fan and did nothing at all.heatwave country, slow-groove twang3:49
7. 7. Open Till Ten, Mr. Pereira's Corner ShopThe bell above the door goes ching, same as when I was nine. Mr. Pereira still remembers my favourite candy.corner-shop folk, dreamy americana3:53
8. 8. Mrs. Abernathy Drew the MapMrs. Abernathy pulled down a map across the board and showed me every road I would one day drive.schoolroom americana, hopeful folk3:28
9. 9. Grandma's Gravy Never Had a RecipeHer hands never measured a thing, just a pinch and a splash and a prayer. I have never once got it to taste the same.grandma country, cosy twang3:35
10. 10. Pastry Flour on the WindowsillI found a tin in the back of the pantry with her handwriting on the lid. I did not open it for a long time.heirloom country, nostalgic ballad3:46
11. 11. The Lamp Still Knows Your NameA tower on the headland where the grey road ends, still burning for ships that no longer come. It is the loneliest song I have written.lighthouse folk, melancholy americana3:54
12. 12. Last Bell Lullaby for the Empty HallwayThe last bell rang an hour ago and the paper stars are still on the window. I closed the record in an empty hallway on purpose.school-hallway lullaby, hushed americana4:30