[INTRO — instrumental, tumbling bass, nervous sax flutters] [VERSE 1 — rapid, jittery] Eleven P.M. on a Wednesday, walls vibrating (walls) The bass from next door got my good plates migrating Third week of this — I am a patient man But patience got a bedtime and it's quarter past, and I put on my jacket — the complaint jacket, grey Practice my stern face in the hallway — hey Is the music too loud, he says, laughing, pulling Me in — one hand on my shoulder, and I'm too dull With tired to fight — it's a birthday — Dominican Somebody's abuela turning eighty — and within Ten seconds I got a plate, I got a cup I got a seat by the auntie who won't shut up About her grandson's college — and the rice — good God The rice — and the music ain't noise when you're part Of the kitchen it's escaping from — funny how that works The same bass line is a nuisance or a pulse, it's worse Or better by the side of the wall you're on [BRIDGE — piano stabs, voice bare] I built my quiet like a fence, board by board They built their joy like a door, always open The wall between us is the same wall Depends which side you knock from [HOOK — jittery, brave] Next door, next door (who's there?) Came to shut it down, stayed for the affair Next door, next door (who's there?) Knocked as a complaint, stayed as a guest (next door) [HOOK — jittery, brave] Next door, next door (who's there?) Came to shut it down, stayed for the affair Next door, next door (who's there?) Knocked as a complaint, stayed as a guest (next door) [VERSE 2 — warmer, steadier] Abuela danced with everybody, one song each Eighty years of hips that never needed speech To say it — she pulled me up — I said I can't She said: everybody can — baby, it's just a plant Your feet and let me steer — and she did — and the room Spun slow and warm like a record — perfume And rice steam and somebody's cologne from '98 And I thought about my house across the way — the state Of quiet I been keeping like a museum piece Nobody dancing there — no rice — no release At midnight I finally said it — to the auntie — soft I came over to complain — and she laughed and scoffed And said: mi hijo, the loud ones are the alive ones Complain again next week — come eat — bring your own cup [OUTRO — sax flutters and fades] (next door... next door...) Wednesday, eleven P.M. Bringing my own cup
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