A Place to Be Late

A place to be late
Somebody kept me a chair

The last bus driver saw me running in the mirror
Waited just enough to let me catch my breath
I had a folding chair beneath my arm for dinner
And a story for the hour I'd missed again
You opened up before I finished saying sorry
Said, Your plate's beneath the foil beside the sink

A place to be late
With a plate beneath the foil
I spend my days explaining where I've been
You just ask me if I'd like some more

Come on in
We were saving you a chair

One Sunday you said you couldn't face the cooking
Your dad was sick; you hadn't slept all week
I heard myself say all the things you'd always told me
Then bought the food before I found a speech
My little table wasn't big enough for all of us
We ate in shifts and kept the conversation going

A place to be late
With a plate beneath the foil
I spend my days explaining where I've been
You just ask me if I'd like some more

There's a boy from work who never comes to anything
Says the ride across the city takes too long
I gave him my address and left the evening open
Told him, Bring yourself; we'll still be on

A place to be late
With a plate beneath the foil
I spend my days explaining where I've been
You just ask me if I'd like some more
A place to be late
With a plate beneath the foil
I spend my days explaining where I've been
You just ask me if I'd like some more

A place to be late
There's a chair beside the wall
Your plate's beneath the foil
You don't have to bring a thing at all