Fare Enough

[Verse 1] Two a.m., the meter's lit Can't sleep, so I'll make use of it Silk on my lips, my hands on the wheel Empty roads, a restless feel My voice slips low through the radio Sweet as a secret you want to know A little smile in every line Who's gonna be my fare tonight? [Verse 2] Me and Shin ride shotgun patrol Two sharp cats with a watchful soul Tina's our girl, we love her dearly Nighttime's strange, so we stay near her She speaks one word, the whole car melts I've seen tough guys forget themselves That velvet voice, that honeyed tone Could charm a king right off his throne Whiskey breath and a crooked grin He waves at Tina, wants to get in. I round my eyes, my pupils expand. Shakes his head. We understand. Broke gambler wants a free taxi Secret lovers giggle happily. Sorry, find another ride. Our whiskers twitch. Something ain't right. [Chorus] Roll through the city, follow the beat I'm chasing fares on these empty streets Check those eyes, inspect that grin Not every stranger gets to climb in! Bass in the engine, drums in the wheels We know the danger, we know the deal. I drive, you watch my back. Three wild souls on a midnight track! [Verse 3] Jogger pounding the road at speed Those hollow eyes spell trouble to me Not that guy! Just look at his face! Years without sleep, he's lost his place Between what's real and dreams in his head Keep moving, Tortuga! Don't get misled! Biker punks block our lane Revving their engines, looking for pain I lock my shell, Shin adjusts his cap Wrong cats to pick for a midnight scrap! [Rap] Shell on my back, paws on attack. Red hat flying, I've got your back! Duck, dip, flip, hear the engines roar. Hat boomerang! They're asleep on the floor! Quick little paws, no wasted motion. Turtle-shell spin, full feline devotion! Slide past a handlebar, leap through the pack. I call "Clear!" and you bounce right back! No tough-guy speech, no victory pose Two little cats, but everybody knows Mess with Tina, you're asking for heat Pick up your pride and get off our street! [Bridge] Little girl curled on the curb Knees to her chest, not saying a word A man with a cane wears a friendly smile Shin and I study him for a while Can't read his heart, can't judge his face The girl's eyes warn us to keep our space She shakes her head as we approach Something is wrong. I feel it most. [Verse 4] He pulls out a fish, the scent hits hard My brain checks out, my guard falls apart My paws go slack, my thoughts unwind My hat slips off. We've lost our minds! Those cats would fetch a handsome price. Come here, kitties. Don't think twice. Hey! Keep your hands off my precious cats! I know your game. I'm stopping that! [Bridge] I rush to you and pull you near Your arms around us, the spell disappears. Blink twice, snap back, claws on deck Grab my hat, straighten your shell! One quick strike, his whole trick breaks Bad man's down before he wakes! [Verse 5] Tina grins, "You two are great!" I turn around. The girl's escaped! She's at our wheel with a cheeky grin Waving goodbye as she drives off again. You fools! We pull this trick all over town! His grin goes still, his breath runs thin We won the fight, but the girl slipped in Now we're stranded at the edge of town No taxi, no ride, no way around. Walking home? We'll be fine, my darlings. [Final Chorus] That was the ride that changed my mind. No night shifts for me from this time! Check those eyes, inspect that grin Sometimes the danger lets itself in! Bass fades out as we greet the day Three sets of footsteps lead the way No meter running, no fares to chase Just Tina's smile and our walking pace! [Outro] Come walk with me, my little dears I've had enough of these midnight years Stay close to me, don't wander far You two are my favorite stars. Tina, that voice could charm the moon Next time, bring fish for us real soon!