Track 1 of the album Umbrella Weather · 2013
The Record Shop on Alder Lane
“I wanted to open with a door and a bell, because that's how every evening in Lisbon starts for me. The late ring is the whole song.”
bossa nova · bossa nova · brazilian songbook · 4:38
Lyrics
Bell above the doorway, rings a little late Dust upon the sleeves, and the sign says "Open, Wait" He turns a record over with two careful hands Says every scratch is a story that the music understands A girl comes in on Tuesdays, never buys a thing Just lets the needle settle while the old tenor sings He never asks her reasons, he just turns it low Some people need a room where the world is soft and slow Oh, the record shop on Alder Lane Keeps the lights on in the rain Every groove a little home For anyone who walks in alone Drop the needle, let it spin Let the quiet settle in Nothing here is in a hurry Come on in, come in Rent went up in autumn, the landlord sent a note He read it by the window in his tired corduroy coat Then he slid a ballad from the shelf marked "Not for Sale" And played it for the empty street, and the street, it did not fail Oh, the record shop on Alder Lane Keeps the lights on in the rain Every groove a little home For anyone who walks in alone Drop the needle, let it spin Let the quiet settle in Nothing here is in a hurry Come on in, come in Songs outlive the hands that press them Outlive the shelves, outlive the door But somewhere someone hums a chorus And the shop is open once more The girl came in on Tuesday with a record in her hand Said, "I found this at my mother's, I don't know if you'd understand" He held it to the lamplight, and he smiled, and he said, "Yes" And they played it through together, and the rain could do the rest Oh, the record shop on Alder Lane Keeps the lights on in the rain Every groove a little home For anyone who walks in alone Drop the needle, let it spin Let the quiet settle in Nothing here is in a hurry Come on in, come in Come on in Come on in