Ni Hao (Coffee and a Slice of Cake)

I see you at the counter every morning just past eight Our eyes meet over coffee — my heart skips a beat Our hands brush for a moment as you pass over my change Rehearsed my line a dozen times — the moment's slipped away Nǐ hǎo Wǒ hěn hǎo Wǒ yào yì bēi kāfēi hé yí kuài dàngāo Nǐ hǎo Wǒ hěn hǎo Wǒ yào yì bēi kāfēi hé yí kuài dàngāo I asked around discreetly, just to learn a bit of you They say you're from Sichuan a student at the U Your voice is full of laughter, though your English isn’t strong And I just stand there starstruck while my words come out all wrong Nǐ hǎo Wǒ hěn hǎo Wǒ yào yì bēi kāfēi hé yí kuài dàngāo Nǐ hǎo Wǒ hěn hǎo Wǒ yào yì bēi kāfēi hé yí kuài dàngāo I want to tell you all the things you mean to me That something in the way you move sets my whole world free But every time I try to speak, my courage slips away So I make yet another promise that tomorrow I will say Nǐ hǎo Wǒ hěn hǎo Wǒ yào yì bēi kāfēi hé yí kuài dàngāo Nǐ hǎo Wǒ hěn hǎo Wǒ yào yì bēi kāfēi hé yí kuài dàngāo Hello! How are you! I'd like coffee and a slice of cake, is that okay with you? Hello! How are you! I'd like coffee and a slice of cake, but really I want you!