[Boot stomp] [Acoustic guitar plays a short question] [Morin khuur answers] [Man] Ten years ago I looked at the sky Said I'm gonna learn How you talk before I die Didn't know the words Didn't know the rules Had a deck on the table And a head full of clues I said Speak, Universe I'm listening now [Universe] You weren't then [Audience laughs] [Man] Well I'm listening now [Universe] Then play [Two guitars lock into groove] [Man] I asked for a road [Universe] I gave you your feet [Man] Asked for a teacher [Universe] I gave you defeat [Man] Asked for a sign [Universe] I gave you nine [Man] Asked for tomorrow [Universe] I gave you time [Both] Bum-ba Bum-ba Down that line You bring the rhythm I'll bring mine [Chorus] [Man] Speak, Universe I'm listening now Took me ten long years To learn how I thought you'd shout I thought you'd burst [Universe] I was always speaking [Man] I was learning To speak Universe [Acoustic hook] [Morin khuur answers] [Man] I asked for abundance [Universe] What did you build? [Man] Something that grows When the cup gets filled [Universe] What did you keep? [Man] More than I spent [Universe] What did you learn? [Man] What ownership meant I stacked what could grow Built what could last Stopped trading tomorrow To pay for the past Made one little engine Then another one turned [Universe] Funny how wealth comes When patience gets learned [Man] Don't get cocky [Universe] Keep playing [Slide guitar laughs] [Chorus] [Man] Speak, Universe I'm listening now Took me ten long years To learn how I thought wealth Would fall from the sky [Universe] I gave you the pieces [Man] And taught me To multiply [Both] Speak, Universe Word by word [Universe] You call it a sign [Man] I call it heard [Instrumental duel] [Acoustic guitar asks] [Morin khuur answers] [Slide guitar challenges] [Morin khuur answers differently] [Bass plays the hook] [Audience claps to stomp] [Man] Then I asked for a voice [Universe] So I gave you a room [Man] Room got bigger [Universe] You kept making room [Man] Hundred people [Universe] Keep going [Man] Thousand people [Universe] Keep going [Man] Ten thousand [Universe] Keep going [Man] A hundred thousand [Universe] Did you stop? [Man] Hell no [Universe] Good [Band slams groove] [Man] Now I'm sitting here At a number so strange One more little threshold One more little change Hundred fifty thousand But here's what I know The number ain't the miracle [Universe] No [Man] The miracle's ten years ago Some fool looked up With nothing rehearsed And said I'm gonna learn To speak Universe [Music drops] [Bridge] [Man] Why'd you break me? [Universe] So you'd look underneath [Man] Why'd you leave me empty? [Universe] So you'd learn what to keep [Man] Why'd you make me wait? [Universe] You weren't ready to choose [Man] Why'd you send love When I had nothing to lose? [Long pause] [Morin khuur] [Universe] So you'd know You still could [Silence] [Man] Fuck [Audience reacts softly] [Boot stomp returns] [Man] Why all the cards? [Universe] You needed a tongue [Man] Why all the endings? [Universe] You weren't becoming If nothing was done [Man] Why all the signs? [Universe] To make you look twice [Man] Why didn't you just tell me? [Universe] Would you have listened? [Man] ...right [Final chorus] [Both] Speak, Universe We're listening now Took us ten long years To get here somehow [Man] I thought I was asking For something at first [Universe] You were learning the rhythm [Man] Learning the words [Both] You bring the rhythm I'll bring mine Bum-ba Bum-ba Down that line Build what is yours Love what you can [Universe] I never promised the road [Man] You just taught me How to stand [Music strips to two instruments] [Man] Ten years ago I said I'd learn your language [Universe] You still think That's what happened? [Man] What happened? [Morin khuur plays opening phrase] [Man's acoustic repeats the exact phrase] [Universe] Now you're speaking it [Man laughs] [Both] Bum-ba Bum-ba [Audience stomps] [End]
