Shop of the Almost

(Chorus) Come through the curtain, the kettle already knows Blue glass, red wax, a pulse in the rose Tell me the ache, I will measure the night One drop for mercy, two drops for flight Shop of the almost, shop of the still I sell you a future that fits in a vial (Verse 1) Shelves like a forest of labeled moons Foxglove and river-salt, honey and runes A bell on the door that refuses to shout Customers come when the street burns out I grind the quiet, I cork the flame Every bottle answers to somebody’s name (Chorus) Come through the curtain, the kettle already knows Blue glass, red wax, a pulse in the rose Tell me the ache, I will measure the night One drop for mercy, two drops for flight Shop of the almost, shop of the still I sell you a future that fits in a vial (Midsection) Midnight counter, I lean on the wood You want it holy, you want it good I don’t do miracles, baby, I do design A little heat in the syrup, a little time Sip it like secret, don’t rush the gold This ain’t a church and it ain’t a store It’s a room where the wanting gets told (Verse 2) Love in the left drawer, sleep in the right Memory watered and sealed up tight If you bring me a story I haven’t heard I can boil it down to a single word Pay with a promise, pay with a scar I keep the receipts in a lacquered jar (Bridge) Stir to the left if the heart is a thief Stir to the right if the grief wants relief Don’t shake the green one, don’t taste the grey The gold one will talk if you look away I am the shop and the shop is a mouth It drinks what you came here to give it out (Final Chorus) Come through the curtain, the kettle already knows Blue glass, red wax, a pulse in the rose Tell me the ache, I will measure the night One drop for mercy, two drops for flight Shop of the almost, shop of the still I sell you a future that fits in a vial Take it slow (Outro) Closed sign means open if you knock like rain