Track 1 of the album Sunday Clothes, Saturday Night · 2016
Cab Radio, Quarter to Three
by Nina Vale
“I wanted to open in the dark with wet streets and a Rhodes that barely speaks. It sets the room before I ever raise my voice.”
soul · smoky soul · soul-jazz · 4:04
Lyrics
Wipers keep the tempo on a wet black avenue Meter's ticking quiet, and the fares have all gone through Quarter to three, and the city's holding still I turn the dial down low, and the old station fills A nurse climbs in the backseat, shoes in her hand Says, "Anywhere that's home, I'll tell you when to land" The trumpet on the radio is crying soft and slow We don't say a word, but we both of us know Cab radio, quarter to three Playing for the ones nobody sees Streetlights blur in a silver stream Everybody's moving through a dream Take me down the long way, driver Let the song run to the end Cab radio, quarter to three A stranger's like a friend Then a man in a tuxedo, bow tie hanging loose Says he played his final set, and he's got nothing left to lose I turn it up a little, it's a tune he used to play He hums along the second verse, and he wipes his eyes away Cab radio, quarter to three Playing for the ones nobody sees Streetlights blur in a silver stream Everybody's moving through a dream Take me down the long way, driver Let the song run to the end Cab radio, quarter to three A stranger's like a friend Nobody tips for the quiet Nobody pays for the tune But I've carried half the city Under a low, lonesome moon Sky goes grey above the bridge, the first bus starts to run I pull up to the corner, and my night is nearly done The last song fades to static, and I let the engine hum Somewhere a window's lighting up for someone who has come Cab radio, quarter to three Playing for the ones nobody sees Streetlights blur in a silver stream Everybody's moving through a dream Take me down the long way, driver Let the song run to the end Cab radio, quarter to three A stranger's like a friend Quarter to three A stranger's like a friend