[Intro] Sit down, cher. I ain't tellin' you twice. [Verse 1] My mama taught me this Her mama taught her the same Don't you call his name in the dark He answers to the name Salt on the sill every night Count the children twice Don't follow no blank face through the fog That's the whole advice [Chorus | Half lift] Listen to the old ones I done told you You don't listen Nobody ever listens Listen to the old ones I done told you Every season Somebody don't listen [Verse 2] We don't speak of who we lost That's the first rule Say the name, you call the line The line always got room He don't come for the careful He don't come for the wise He come for the curious one He come for young eyes [Chorus | Intense] Listen to the old ones I done told you You don't listen Nobody ever listens Listen to the old ones I done told you Every season Somebody don't listen [Bridge] I had a brother. I don't say his name. I ain't sayin' it now, I ain't sayin' it ever. That's how I keep him. [Verse 3 | muted trumpets] We built the village where we could We cut the cypress down We never asked nobody We never asked him nothin' We drained the water, laid the road We planted on the black mud The swamp was here first We livin' on his land [Final Chorus | Full lift] Listen to the old ones I done told you You don't listen Nobody ever listens Listen to the old ones I done told you He was here first He ain't goin' nowhere [Outro] Salt on the sill. Count the children. Goodnight, cher.
