[Intro – Slow, smoky blues, mournful erhu] (Mmmh… yeah…) Another lonely night… Another empty plate… Foe Yong Hai… [Verse 1] Neon buzzing like a tired fly Red lanterns sway in the Dutch night sky Soy sauce pools on the cracked old plate Egg Foo Yong Hai, my only date The waiter knows my name by heart He watched my whole damn world fall apart I count my coins beneath the light But hunger always wins tonight [Pre-Chorus 1] Soy sauce stains on my broken soul In this takeout box, I’ve lost control [Chorus] Foe Yong Hai, oh why, oh why You taste so sweet, but I still cry Late-night tears in the soy-lit glow Heartbreak served with rice to go Foe Yong Hai, don’t say goodbye You’re the only love that money can buy [Verse 2] Chopsticks tap like a clock in pain The rain outside spells your name again A duck pancake rolls but won’t unfold This bitter heart grows dim and cold The sum is separately sold My pockets empty, my hands are cold I asked for extra, they shook their heads Now I’m dreaming of sweet and sour in bed [Pre-Chorus 2] But the chopsticks snap, they can’t hold me tight I’m drowning deep in this Chinese night [Chorus] Foe Yong Hai, oh why, oh why You taste so sweet, but I still cry Late-night tears in the soy-lit glow Heartbreak served with rice to go Foe Yong Hai, don’t say goodbye You’re the only love that money can buy [Verse 3 – Deep, weary blues] I sold my watch for babi pangang Spent my last five euros on a lonely song The landlord knocked, I turned away Said I’d pay the rent some other day There’s a loempia stand down the street Where desperate men and hunger meet I offered love, he called the police All I wanted was some sweet chili peace [Bridge – Guzheng and crying erhu] Oh, sweet omelette, golden and warm You’re my shelter from the storm No silver spoon, no fortune told Just one more bite before I grow old (Baby, please…) (Don’t take my nasi away…) [Final Chorus – Soulful, aching] Foe Yong Hai, oh why, oh why You taste so sweet, but I still cry Late-night tears in the soy-lit glow Heartbreak served with rice to go Foe Yong Hai, don’t say goodbye Without your sauce, I’d rather die [Outro – Slow blues fade, lonely erhu] The kitchen’s closed, the lights go dim My chances now are looking slim One final tear, one empty tray Tomorrow I’ll find another way (Mmmh… Foe Yong Hai…) (Extra nasi…) (…if I can pay.)
