11 — LEAVE A CHAIR Voice: The United Table / Earthling and ensemble [Style: Psychedelic bluegrass, mutant funk, porch gospel; baritone verses, mixed answering voices, banjo, fiddle, elastic bass, organ, trumpet, harmonica. 104 BPM, G major.] [Verse 1 — Earthling] Ten notebooks on the timber, Ten ways to see the dawn. One said, “Ask another question.” One said, “Bring the hungry one.” Someone moved the cup of water From the edge where it could fall. Someone listened to the quietest; That made room enough for all. [Chorus — ensemble] Leave a chair, leave a chair, There is someone coming here. With a story we have missed, With a truth we need to hear. Let the table grow around them, Let our hands repair the ground. We can learn to live together With our differences still around. [Verse 2] We disagreed on heaven, What a soul might be or do. Some had words for the beginning, Some said, “We haven’t proof.” But the child beside the doorway Needed supper, needed care. And the argument grew gentler When we offered her a chair. [Bridge — individual voices] Ask before you claim it. Listen before you lead. Pay the hands that made it. Protect the growing seed. Let the evidence correct you. Let the weary have their rest. Love your neighbor into safety. Leave the river at its best. [Harmonica solo — 16 bars; band responds] [Final chorus — repeat twice; communal lift] [Outro — spoken] We left one empty chair. Tell us what we’ve missed.
