(working title — call-and-response, chamber folk) VERSE 1 (female voice) Nine forty-five the doors swing wide Seattle morning, Zoom on the side Old and new sit down as one Another season’s work begun VERSE 1 RESPONSE (male voice) District by district, the fire’s been lit Roundtable Sunday, noon they sit Sharing stories, passing the torch Every doorway is a porch CHORUS (both, call-and-response) We’re bridging the gap — (bridging the gap) Center to circle — (center to circle) Never say no — (never say no) When they need the way home VERSE 2 (male voice) A slideshow made by a District hand Clear and simple, easy to understand Forty pamphlets, hand to hand Passed like water ’cross the land VERSE 2 RESPONSE (female voice) Ladies carry a meeting inside Lakeside walls can’t keep it outside A Russian circle, an ocean away Same old story, a brand new day CHORUS (both) We’re bridging the gap — (bridging the gap) Center to circle — (center to circle) Never say no — (never say no) When they need the way home BRIDGE (female, spoken-sung, slower) The handbook’s coming, mine to yours October waits behind the doors I’ll teach you what was taught to me Then step aside so you can see — BRIDGE RESPONSE (male, rising) That the gap was never ours to keep It’s a bridge we’re building while we sleep One roundtable, one Sunday noon We’ll meet again beneath this moon FINAL CHORUS (full, building) We’re bridging the gap — (bridging the gap) Center to circle — (center to circle) Never say no — (never say no) Thank you for the chance to serve — Thank you for the chance to serve OUTRO (female, alone, a cappella) December rests, then we begin again December rests, then we begin again
