Verse 1 1987, Omaha dawn Six forty-seven, Tuesday on Boots too clean, eyes too tired Running from a life already hired Counter or booth? Window seat Sun comes up where you don’t feel beat Coffee lands before I speak Black, two sugar, one cream Pre-Chorus She said, “Kid, you look like someone Who’s running toward something, not away” I didn’t know that mattered But it changed my life that day Chorus Eat first We’ll talk later World can wait till the hunger breaks Eat first You’re not in trouble Nobody gets left at 3 AM Verse 2 Worked the line from town to town Graveyard shifts, grease and sound Learned the rhythm, learned the tell When someone’s fine and when they’re not well Wallets lift like sleight of hand Not for greed — for the broken plan Eddie said, “It ain’t theft, son It’s just money finding where it belongs” Pre-Chorus Paid a bail, bought a meal Covered rent, kept it real Nobody asks where it came from They just stand back up and breathe again Chorus Eat first We’ll talk later Paperwork don’t calm the shakes Eat first Sit down, breathe easy Someone showed up — that’s what saves Verse 3 Vegas nights, neon tired Phones ring when hope’s expired Three AM, county gate Brown bag, water, open fate They say my place moves around Swear they saw it in another town I don’t argue, I don’t explain I just pour the coffee all the same Bridge I didn’t plan to be a system Didn’t mean to be a sign I just kept showing up At the worst damn time If that bends the world a little That’s between it and God All I know is empty stomachs Make liars out of us all Final Chorus Eat first Ask nothing Sun’ll come up when it’s ready Eat first Corner booth’s still open Window seat, no glare, already steady Outro If you’re lost If you’re scared If your night went too far I’ll be there Coffee hot Same place you are Eat first
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