JARS, JINGLES & BARS [INTRO — WARM ROOM, JARS LIGHTLY CLINKING] Nine songs on the counter, One clean jar to go— Garden’s been generous, Let’s save what we grew. [VERSE 1 — MALE LEAD] Used to help my grandma When the harvest came around, Tomatoes in the kitchen, Fresh beans by the pound. She’d say, “Wash those jars, son, Every rim and every scar— Fresh things need a clean place If they’re gonna travel far.” I didn’t know I’d carry That lesson all these years— You clean a little room out, Then fill it with what’s dear. [PRE-CHORUS] Take the thought before it wanders, Take the tune before it’s gone— Seal the moment while it’s warm, And put a label on the song. [CHORUS — MALE LEAD, FEMALE HARMONY BLOOMS] We got jingles in jars, We got bars on the shelf, Little pieces of the garden We can open for ourselves. Every laugh, every lesson, Every road beneath the stars— We keep the good from going bad With our jingles, jars, and bars. [SHORT INSTRUMENTAL RESPONSE — WEATHERED GUITAR, HAMMOND] [VERSE 2 — MALE LEAD, SLIGHTLY QUICKER POCKET] Some thoughts come like thunder, Some float in like a feather, Some don’t look like much at first Till you place the words together. A wheelbarrow of language, A pantry full of sound, We gather what life gives us Before the sun goes down. No need to force the flavor, No need to fake the shine— The garden does the growing; We just catch it at the right time. [PRE-CHORUS] Leave a little air above it, Give the melody some room— You can’t hurry what is honest; You can only help it bloom. [CHORUS — FULL DUET HARMONY] We got jingles in jars, We got bars on the shelf, Little pieces of the garden We can open for ourselves. Every laugh, every lesson, Every road beneath the stars— We keep the good from going bad With our jingles, jars, and bars. [EXTENDED GUITAR NARRATIVE — 8 BARS, NO VOCALS] [BRIDGE — MALE LEAD, DRUMS PULL BACK] When the growing season quiets, When the winter finds the door, We’ll twist the lid and hear again What the summer made us for. Grandma knew a simple truth I finally understand: What you preserve with loving care Can keep on feeding man. [FEMALE RESPONSE — GENTLE] Keep on feeding heart and hand. [FINAL CHORUS — WIDE, WARM, CELEBRATORY] We got jingles in jars, We got bars on the shelf, Ten good songs from one long day— And every one sounds like ourselves. Every breeze, every button, Every hard-earned little scar— The garden keeps the records In our jingles, jars, and bars. [OUTRO — MALE LEAD, ALMOST SPOKEN] Nine songs on the counter, Number ten beneath the stars. [FEMALE HARMONY] Fresh thought… clean jar. [MALE LEAD] Put a lid on it, partner. [FINAL GUITAR NOTE — JAR LID SOFTLY POPS]
