Last Orders, Last Chorus, Last Cup of Tea

Lyrics

The fire is down to embers
The band has packed their cases away
There's one last pot of tea on the counter
And the night has little to say
I'm stacking up the cups and saucers
Humming something half-remembered and slow
A song my mother used to sing
In the kitchen long ago

Last orders, last chorus, last cup of tea
Sit a while longer, sit here with me
The roads are quiet and the stars are few
Let the last song of the night carry you through
Last orders, last chorus, last cup of tea
Everything that's tender is staying with me
Put the kettle on, we'll sing it again
Home is the place where the last song ends

A neighbour tucks her scarf in tight
And pauses at the door
She says that was the loveliest evening
And I say that it's still not over
We stand in the draught of the doorway
And sing the old song again
Soft as a candle burning
At the end of a long, good day

Last orders, last chorus, last cup of tea
Sit a while longer, sit here with me
The roads are quiet and the stars are few
Let the last song of the night carry you through
Last orders, last chorus, last cup of tea
Everything that's tender is staying with me
Put the kettle on, we'll sing it again
Home is the place where the last song ends

There will be other evenings
Brighter ones, maybe, and loud
But I will keep this small one
Like a coin in a pocket, unbowed
The lamplight and the music
The hush when the singing is done
The way we walked home together
Under one patient moon

Last orders, last chorus, last cup of tea
Sit a while longer, sit here with me
The roads are quiet and the stars are few
Let the last song of the night carry you through
Last orders, last chorus, last cup of tea
Everything that's tender is staying with me
Put the kettle on, we'll sing it again
Home is the place where the last song ends

Last cup of tea
Sit here with me
The last song ends