The Long Way Chose You

[Verse 1] I bought a map from a man with one shoe He said, “Take the long way, it’s shorter for you” Past the laundromat, past the bakery cat Who wore a paper crown and wouldn’t give it back My pocket had a button, a plum, and a dime The button knew the chorus, the plum kept time I asked the bus driver, “Does this thing go west?” He said, “Depends what you mean by your best” [Call and Response] Who’s got the map? (I got the map!) Where’s it lead? (To a snack!) What’s in the bag? (One old shoe!) Who put it there? (Could’ve been you!) [Verse 2] At the corner, a mailbox was giving advice “Don’t trust a sandwich that’s cut once, not twice” A kid on a scooter did a dignified spin Then waved to the pigeons like they’d all been kin I found my front door at the end of the block The clock in the kitchen was wearing my sock You said, “You’re late.” I said, “That’s probably true.” The map had a note: “The long way chose you” [Chorus] Take it easy, take it wide Let the little odd things ride If the road bends, let it bend We’ll be home around the end [Outro] One shoe, two coins, plum rolling slow If you see that cat, tell him I said hello