There’s a Whole Band in That Screen Door

[Intro — rolling piano, slap bass] [Hohner Comet answers the piano] [Bubba — spoken] Darlene, listen to that screen door. [Darlene — spoken] Well, give it a key and let it join! [Verse 1 — Bubba] That screen door squeaks in a pretty good key, Got a loose little spring keeping time with me. My boot finds a board with a hollow-down sound, And the porch starts talking when I set it down. Got a spoon in a cup going ting-ting-ting, A breeze in the rafters doing its own thing. I came out here just to rest my feet— Now the whole front porch has found a beat. [Harmonica fill] [Verse 2 — Darlene] You brought that little red case outside, Opened it up with a sideways smile. Played three notes, then you played three more, And a bird sang back from the sycamore. I tapped my glass with the end of a spoon, You said, “Hold on, we might have a tune.” Now your coffee’s cold and the daylight’s gone, But that old piano keeps rolling on. [Chorus — duet] There’s a whole band in that screen door, A little backbeat in the kitchen floor. Something sweet in a plain old day, If you sit long enough, it’ll start to play. Let that bass go walking, let that piano roll, Let a little silver melody warm your soul. Pull up a chair, we got room for more— There’s a whole band in that screen door. [Instrumental — piano solo, slap bass answers] [Banjo joins; harmonica takes the melody] [Verse 3 — Bubba, spoken rhythm] Now Trigger’s on patrol with his nose down low, Checking every little place that a squirrel might go. Four little paws with a clickety-clack, He rounds that chair, then he doubles right back. The wind lifts a page, I catch my hat, Darlene laughs, says, “Write down that!” Got a song half finished and a sink full of plates— Let me catch this chorus; those dishes can wait. [Darlene — spoken] One chorus, Bubba. [Bubba — spoken] How long a chorus we talking? [Short ukulele and kalimba turnaround] [Verse 4 — Darlene] There’s a man next door with a rake in his hand, He leans on the fence when he hears the band. Says, “I used to play when my hands were young.” You slide him a chair before he gets done. He taps two fingers on the side of his knee, Then hums a part neither one of us sees. You follow him soft, and I come in low— Funny where a little porch tune can go. [Chorus — duet] There’s a whole band in that screen door, A little backbeat in the kitchen floor. Something sweet in a plain old day, If you sit long enough, it’ll start to play. Let that bass go walking, let that piano roll, Let a little silver melody warm your soul. Pull up a chair, we got room for more— There’s a whole band in that screen door. [Bridge — gentle, male and female alternating] [Bubba] Some nights I’ve got more words than sense. [Darlene] Some nights you lean against the fence. [Bubba] Tonight this tune says all I need. [Darlene] Then leave some room and let it breathe. [Instrumental — expressive Hohner Comet solo] [Wooden flute answers; piano gently builds] [Final chorus — duet, full band] There’s a whole band in that screen door, And a neighbor asking, “Play one more!” Something sweet in a plain old day, We sat down here and it came our way. Let that bass go walking, let that piano roll, Let a little silver melody warm your soul. Pull up a chair, we got room for more— There’s a whole band in that screen door. [Outro — piano and harmonica trade short phrases] [Darlene — spoken] Now, about those dishes. [Bubba — spoken] Reckon we could use a washboard? [Darlene laughs] [One screen-door clap; final upright bass note]