Goodnight, Old City

Goodnight, old city
Somebody should say it kindly
Last to leave the evening
I pull the streets behind me

The shutters clap their hands goodnight
The keys turn one by one
The baker banks his fire down
For the first warm loaves at dawn
The café folds its chairs
The cat takes the last of the light
Every doorway is a chapter
I have read the whole book twice

The city yawns like an old lion
I lower my voice for love

Goodnight, old city
Pull the rooftops to your chin
One lantern at a time now
All my loves are sleeping in

(Goodnight) Goodnight, old city

You held the dancers and the sailors
The henna nights, the vows
You kept my worst year in a doorway
And never said it out loud
Under the paint on number nine
My name is still scratched in
Old walls are the best of friends
They keep what they are given

The harbour puts its lights away
I lower my voice for love

Goodnight, old city
Pull the rooftops to your chin
One lantern at a time now
All my loves are sleeping in

One window is still gold
A pen, a hand, a chair
Leave that lamp for last, old city
Some of us are still becoming

Goodnight, old city
Pull the rooftops to your chin
One lantern at a time now
All but one are sleeping in

Hold the ones I sang about
Hold me
Goodnight