Two A.M. Record

Put on our two a.m. record
The one that never lies

The mediation papers
Face-down beside the wine
We've circled every sentence
Left the lines unsigned
Your taxi comes at seven
My sister has the kids
Nothing left to argue
So I ask for this
You pull the old blue sleeve out
From the bottom of the crate
The record from our first flat
With the scratch on track eight

Don't play it to persuade me
Don't make the past a plea
If we listen, let the music
Tell the truth of you and me

Put on our two a.m. record
Let it turn without defence
Every crackle holds the lovers
That we were back then
If the song still finds us honest
We can hear what's left
Put on our two a.m. record
Don't promise, just confess

At the skip I start to laugh
And you know the exact place
You lift the needle gently
Tears are moving down my face
I didn't leave because
The tenderness was gone
I left because I carried
Every ordinary thing alone

I turn the record over
Take the calendar down
Write the school runs and the counselling
Where my sorry used to drown

Put on our two a.m. record
Let it turn without defence
Every crackle holds the lovers
But tonight is here instead
If the song still finds us honest
We can test what's left
Put on our two a.m. record
Less of promise, more of proof

The song did not repair us
The memory didn't choose
You finally heard the labour
I was frightened I would lose

Put on our two a.m. record
Let the old groove meet the new
We won't mistake nostalgia
For the work we have to do
When the last chord leaves the speaker
There's one honest week to prove
The record keeps on turning
Now our hands have work to do

The taxi never came
The papers stayed unsigned
Two a.m. record