Track 9 of the album Umbrella Weather · 2013
Bread Before the Sun
“The odd one out, a soul song about a baker's two o'clock start. It was the first thing we ever played together, so it stays on the record.”
soul · soul · warm groove · 3:36
Lyrics
Two o'clock, the street is dark Flour on my sleeves Ovens humming like a tune Only the cold night believes Radio down low and slow Dough rising in the heat Nobody's up to see me work But somebody's gonna eat I make the bread before the sun Before the first alarm Before the milkman's bottles ring Before the day has form While the city's dreaming deep I'm shaping something warm Bread before the sun Is how a morning's born Four o'clock, the windows steam The crust begins to sing A little crackle in the dark Like a small applause for spring I tap the loaf and hear it ring Hollow, golden, true Somebody's breakfast, somebody's toast Somebody's sandwich too I make the bread before the sun Before the first alarm Before the milkman's bottles ring Before the day has form While the city's dreaming deep I'm shaping something warm Bread before the sun Is how a morning's born Nobody knows my name out there Nobody has to know But a child will taste it with her jam And the whole kitchen will glow That's plenty pay for a tired back And hands that smell of rye I'll take the quiet, take the heat And the first grey streak of sky Six o'clock, the door swings wide The early ones come in A nod, a coin, a paper bag And the warmth against the skin I wipe my hands and watch them go Down the waking street And I head home to my sleep While the whole town starts to eat I make the bread before the sun Before the first alarm Before the milkman's bottles ring Before the day has form While the city's dreaming deep I'm shaping something warm Bread before the sun Is how a morning's born Bread before the sun Goodnight, good morning, everyone