[VERSE 1] When everything, goes sideways, don’t start, with a grand design. Check the lights, Check the water. Check who’s hungry. Make sure everybody’s, fine. Keep the work-gloves somewhere, close. Write some numbers, on a page. Find, a thing that, still functions. And Start, from there… [CHORUS] Start, with what, still works. Don’t apologize, If it’s, small. A life, can be rebuilt; from the pieces that, did, not, fall… One cleaned, surface. One paid, bill. Just One nutritious, meal. Just One honest, call. Oh-oh Start, with what, still works… That’s enough, to start, it all… [instrumental break - fast banjo picking] [VERSE 2] I know the dignity, uh-workin’. when your title, doesn’t shine. (Hotels, Rooms, Guests; Back-offices.) Human problems. stackin-up. nine-to-five. I know, invisible labor: the things that no-one, ever sees… un-‘til. ya’ stop, doin’ them. (Oh-oh-oh (oh-oh (oh-ooh-oh))) I know scarcity: When every, choice, becomes a (uh) strategy. Every mile, costs something. Every delay, steals, freedom. So call it a, hustle if you need to. I call it: keep-in, the lights-on. (Ow-ow) [instrumental break - tribal drums/instruments, with banjo playing side-fiddle] [VERSE 3] There were crossroads: (quit the job. try the gig. start the, business. move. Re-build.) There were years, when optimism felt, expensive. There are times, when politics, enters (the blood, stream) when news became my midnight, when outrage, became exhaustion. You can stay morally awake… without burning yourself out. (Phew) Truth, with backbone. doesn’t benefit, From self-destruction. [BRIDGE] When someone disappoints you, don’t pretend it didn’t happen. When systems fail, don’t pretend they didn’t. But don’t let, disillusionment turn you, hollow… Keep discernment. And humor. Find out, a neighbor’s name. Keep a blanket. And a worklight. And an emergency plan… [VERSE 4] The Good Neighbor, doesn’t promise. That nothing will break. He says: if it breaks, we’ll see, what‘s left. Then we’ll sort it. And we’ll breathe. Then we’ll decide, what gets repaired, And what gets, released… and what gets… built. Diff-rent-lee... [CHORUS] So, Start, with what, still works… A porch, A paycheck, A friend, A song. A dog, sleepin’, nearby… A person willing, to tell the truth. Oh, Start. with what still works. Not perfect. Not finished. (No-oh (no-oh-oh-oh)) (Ahh-ah-ah-ah…) Alive… [OUTRO] Tomorrow, is allowed, to be… practical. (Mmm, mmm-mm-mm-mm) Prak-tik-cull. (Ooh!)
