[Intro — Tabla, bells and electronic bass] Follow the lanterns, Follow the sound. There's a whole world turning When the night comes around. [Verse 1] We followed all the lanterns through the market after dark, A chef was turning saffron into something like a spark. She told us where her grandmother had learned the family dish, And let us taste a little after asking what we wished. Across the lane a drummer played a pattern from his home, He taught us how to count it before adding our own tone. [Pre-Chorus — Rising percussion] Not everything is ours to take, Not every sound is just a spice. Ask the people, learn the stories, Give the roots their rightful light. [Chorus — Explosive brass and dance beat] Take the spice route to the stars, Every flavor tells us who we are. Different hands can make a feast, When we bring respect to every beat. Spice route to the stars, Let the music travel far. Every story has a home, Even when the melodies roam. [Instrumental Drop — 8 bars, tabla and brass] [Verse 2] A brass player joined the drummer with a line he'd learned in school, The chef brought out a second plate and set another stool. We wrote the names of everyone who taught us something new, And promised that the song would say whose hands had brought it through. The market wasn't just a place to find another sound, It was people with their histories making something on the ground. [Bridge — Percussion and vocals] Let the rhythm keep its roots, Let the new arrangement grow. When we honor where it started, There is so much more to know. [Final Chorus — Full global ensemble] Take the spice route to the stars, Every flavor tells us who we are. Different hands can make a feast, When we bring respect to every beat. Spice route to the stars, Let the music travel far. Every story has a home, Even when the melodies roam. [Outro — Tabla and atmospheric synths] The stars above the market Were shining on us all. We carried home the stories, Not just the flavors from the stalls.
