Track 2 of the single Open Mic Hours · 2022
Toll Booth Philosopher
by Mara Voss
“I sat in rush-hour traffic and started giving the toll booth worker my life story in my head. The bars came out dry because that's how the day felt.”
trap · jazz rap · lyrical rap · 4:10
Lyrics
Booth light glowing in the five o'clock haze Coins in the tray and a thousand different faces Window slides open, I got two seconds flat Read the whole mood from the way you hand it back Man in the suit with his jaw all tight Lady with the sunroof singing out of key Kid in a hatchback, bass in the trunk I'm the pause button on the road to anywhere Everybody rushing, I'm the still point Hold up, hold up, take a breath, now go Toll booth philosopher, I see you passing through Every car a story, every window a view Take your change, take your time, the road ain't going far Toll booth philosopher, wishing you a lighter load Safe on the road Rain on the roof like a snare roll drumming Wipers on the cars all keeping time with me Truck driver winks, he's been up since four Tells me he's hauling oranges, thirty-six crates deep I hand him a smile with his dollar and a quarter He hands me a story that I'm keeping for the night Little bit of kindness is a currency too Don't need a receipt for the good that we do Everybody rushing, I'm the still point Hold up, hold up, take a breath, now go Toll booth philosopher, I see you passing through Every car a story, every window a view Take your change, take your time, the road ain't going far Toll booth philosopher, wishing you a lighter load Safe on the road Sunset spilling orange on the concrete lane Brake lights blooming like a field of red flowers Somebody's heading home, somebody's heading out Somebody's running toward a door that is waiting I count the hours but I never count the faces Every one of them a chapter I will never get to read So I say it slow as the gate lifts up Get there in one piece, that's more than enough Quiet in the booth when the lane runs thin Hear the city hum like a bass line breathing One more car and the night comes in Hand on the window, heart on the beat Toll booth philosopher, I see you passing through Every car a story, every window a view Take your change, take your time, the road ain't going far Toll booth philosopher, wishing you a lighter load Safe on the road Gate goes up, lights go low Toll booth philosopher, on the road Safe on the road