
Aisle Hum
[Hook: Pulverizing steel-ribbed male vocalist, belted, pulverizing, loud] Aisle hum, I finally sang it out Every seat empty heard me without doubt Strings came up under the dust I used to brush Twenty-seven years compressed into a rush [Verse 1: Pulverizing steel-ribbed male vocalist, pulverizing, belted] I ushered every seat for twenty-seven winters straight Knew which boards would creak and which ones could wait Programs in my hands like a soft paper tide I hummed the overture on the wrong side of pride Never took a bow, never took a borrowed light Just the aisle and the hush before the house got bright Final night they swept the last flowers away I stayed to walk the empty map I learned by day [Verse 2: Pulverizing steel-ribbed male vocalist, pulverizing, warmer] Bandleader found me standing where row G goes thin Asked me if I knew the missing audience part within I clapped once in the dark the way the score had planned He nodded like a man who finally understands No ticket, no program with my name in tiny ink Just a steel-ribbed chest that never got to think About the sound it made when nobody was near Tonight the hall was mine and it was loud and clear [Hook: Pulverizing steel-ribbed male vocalist, belted, pulverizing, loud] Aisle hum, I finally sang it out Every seat empty heard me without doubt Strings came up under the dust I used to brush Twenty-seven years compressed into a rush [Bridge: Pulverizing steel-ribbed male vocalist, program rustle, pulverizing, belted] Program rustle in my coat Old stub like a tiny boat I set it on the armrest clean Sang the part I always mean [Verse 3: Pulverizing steel-ribbed male vocalist, pulverizing, final] House lights died, I left the key upon the booth Aisle still hummed a little with the honest truth Some songs are not premieres, they are long unpaid debts I paid mine walking empty rows without regrets [Hook: Pulverizing steel-ribbed male vocalist, belted, pulverizing, loud] Aisle hum, I finally sang it out Every seat empty heard me without doubt Strings came up under the dust I used to brush Twenty-seven years compressed into a rush [Outro: Pulverizing steel-ribbed male vocalist, belted, string figure rings out and fades] Program rustle, aisle clear I was always singing here [End]

