Track 2 of the album Second Shift · 2022
Last Plate at the Hawker Centre
by Kane Rivers
“Shutters halfway down, stools stacked twice. I learned to watch people close up.”
boom-bap · warm boom-bap · world-travel rap · 3:37
Lyrics
Shutters coming halfway down at ten to ten Aunty stacks the plastic stools, then stacks them again Steam still climbing off the wok like a ghost with manners Uncle wipes the counter with a towel from the old planners I'm the last one standing with my tray and my tired feet Chili on my fingertips, rice grains on the seat She sees me at the corner and she doesn't ask a thing Slides a plate across the steel like a quiet little king Closing time, closing time Everybody's hungry for a little more time Last plate at the hawker centre, last light on the lane Fans are turning slowly, getting ready for the rain Nobody here is rushing, nobody here is gone One more bite of home before the night moves on Last plate at the hawker centre, give it all you got Dinner's cold in every house but this one's piping hot Cleaners with the hoses and the soapy river flow Radio on a shelf playing songs from long ago Taxi drivers sipping tea with their shoes kicked off Student with a textbook and a cough drop for a cough Nobody asks who you are, they just ask what you need Kopi in a plastic bag tied up like a seed Fifty years of frying and she still knows my name Tells me eat it while it's hot, never eat it the same Closing time, closing time Everybody's hungry for a little more time Last plate at the hawker centre, last light on the lane Fans are turning slowly, getting ready for the rain Nobody here is rushing, nobody here is gone One more bite of home before the night moves on Last plate at the hawker centre, give it all you got Dinner's cold in every house but this one's piping hot Quiet now, the stalls go dark one by one Chairs upside down like they're done with the sun Take your time, take your time, I'll wait on the stool Hunger taught me manners in the hawker school She counts the coins, I count my blessings out loud Empty hall is echoing, I'm feeling kind of proud Thank her with a nod and a two-dollar tip Walk into the evening with a full heart and a grip Last plate at the hawker centre, last light on the lane Fans are turning slowly, getting ready for the rain Nobody here is rushing, nobody here is gone One more bite of home before the night moves on Last plate at the hawker centre, give it all you got Dinner's cold in every house but this one's piping hot Last plate, last light Goodnight, goodnight