SIX O'CLOCK [Intro – ticking clock, crooked piano, cups clattering] The man in the tall hat kicked out a chair. “There's room.” The March Hare said there wasn't. The Dormouse slept between the teacups. He leaned across the table. “Don't mind them. You're late.” I looked at the clock. He snatched it from my hand. “First mistake. Never stare at Time. He takes it personally.” [small laugh] “Tea?” [Verse 1] His watch said six. Every clock said six. Sun hanging crooked over porcelain cups. He poured until the saucer filled. Kept pouring. Watched it spill. I said, “Your watch is broken.” He looked almost offended. “No. Time is.” [Pre-Chorus] Then he asked me a riddle. I asked for the answer. He blinked. “What would be the point of that?” [Chorus] WELCOME TO SIX O'CLOCK. THE TEA IS HOT. THE CLOCK IS NOT. CHANGE YOUR CHAIR. LOSE YOUR PLACE. EVERY MINUTE WEARS ANOTHER FACE. WELCOME TO SIX O'CLOCK. [Post-Chorus] Move down! Next cup! No room! Plenty! Move down! Next cup! [Verse 2] He buttered his watch. The Hare suggested jam. The Dormouse woke long enough to say something about three sisters living under the ground. Nobody questioned this. I started to. The Hatter smiled. “You'll exhaust yourself doing that.” Then he poured me Thursday. Or possibly May. I couldn't tell anymore. [Pre-Chorus] “Why does a minute last forever when you're waiting? Why does a year disappear when you want it back? And if Time only moves forward— why do you spend so much of yours looking behind you?” I opened my mouth. He raised one finger. “Careful. You nearly answered.” [Chorus] WELCOME TO SIX O'CLOCK. THE TEA IS HOT. THE CLOCK IS NOT. CHANGE YOUR CHAIR. LOSE YOUR PLACE. EVERY MINUTE WEARS ANOTHER FACE. WELCOME TO SIX O'CLOCK. [Instrumental – clocks desynchronize] Tick. Tock. Tick-tick. Tock. Six. Six. Six. Six. [Verse 3 – quieter] “You want to go home.” I hadn't told him that. He moved one cup to the empty chair beside him. “Which one?” I stared. “The one you left? The one you remember? Or the one that's changing while you're sitting here?” For once, nobody laughed. Even the Hare looked down. [Bridge – piano and ticking only] The Hatter leaned closer. “Everyone out there is running somewhere. Tomorrow. Next year. The person they'll become when everything finally happens. Poor things.” He tapped the face of his watch. “Here— nothing is next. Nothing is late. Nobody has to become anything before the tea gets cold.” The clock stopped. So did I. He smiled. “Doesn't that feel strange?” [quiet] “Yes.” “Good.” [beat] “Doesn't it feel wonderful?” [Build – clocks return at different speeds] Tick. Tock. Tick-tick. Tock. Yesterday. Tomorrow. Never. Now. The table stretched. The trees bent sideways. Steam climbed down into the cups. The Dormouse laughed in his sleep. And suddenly— I understood absolutely nothing. [beat] It was beautiful. [Final Chorus – chaotic ensemble] WELCOME TO SIX O'CLOCK! MOVE THE CUPS! MOVE THE CHAIRS! IF TIME WON'T HAVE US— WHO CARES? ASK THE QUESTION! LOSE THE THREAD! START AT THE END— THEN GO AHEAD! WELCOME TO SIX O'CLOCK! [Gang / overlapping voices] More tea! Wrong cup! Move down! No room! Plenty! What time is it? SIX! What time was it? SIX! What time will it— [HARD CUT] [Outro – single clock] The Hatter pushed my cup toward me. I looked at the clock again. He sighed. “Second mistake.” [small laugh] “More tea?”
