[Intro, 4 bars] [Verse 1] I came back to the place I was made Where the banners hang like yesterday’s parade Red, white, and green in the September haze Like a prayer that refuses to fade There’s a voice in the bells and the smoke Of a street that remembers every word I spoke And the ghosts of my father pour wine and provoke Every truth that I left here unbroke [Pre-Chorus 1] Every step feels like someone I missed Every light like a promise I kissed [Chorus] This is my Mulberry Street serenade Where saints watch the sinners and debts never fade Where the old-world whispers through every charade And the heart learns the songs that it made Some people go searching for heaven to find But mine was here waiting — I just left it behind [Verse 2] There’s a band on the corner off-key But somehow they’re singing the anthem of me With an accordion sighing like old destiny And a tambourine clocking the plea Nonna’s voice in the fryers and pans Telling boys not to run till they know who they am While the Father reads blessings no one understands Yet we nod, like it’s all in the plan [Pre-Chorus 2] And the saints in the banners look stern As if daring me now to return [Chorus 2] This is my Mulberry Street serenade Where faith tastes like peppers and promises made Where the silence of leaving is louder than stayed And forgiveness arrives unafraid Some people grow wiser the farther they roam But I only grew empty from losing my home [BRIDGE] I left like a promise I never could keep Chasing fortunes that bought me no sleep Every skyline I reached only pushed you away Till I stood at this crossroads with nothing to say And I swear every echo that calls out my name Sounds like Mulberry Street taking aim [FINAL CHORUS] This is my Mulberry Street serenade [solo lead] Where saints watch the sinners and debts never fade [add high harmony] Where the old-world whispers through every charade [add high harmony] And the life that I almost mislaid [add high AND low harmony] If God ever listens to prayers that we sing [full harmony] He hides in the places where our roots still cling [full harmony, sustain “cling”] [Outro] I didn’t come home for glory or grade Just to hear what my soul once played In my Mulberry Street Serenade
