Shout Before the Door Opens

(Shout!)

Shout before the door opens
Shout before the key turns
Shout before you see it, child
Let the hallway hear you earn it
(Shout!) Shout before the light comes
Faith is a thing you do with your feet first
Open, open, open
(Open, open, open)
Hallelujah, hear it knocking
(Knocking, knocking, knocking)
Hallelujah, hear it knocking
(Knocking, knocking, knocking)
(Hey!)

Rent was due on Friday, rent was due on Monday
(Friday! Monday!)
I was standing in the hallway with my coat on
Praying in my head, so nobody would hear me
Then my neighbor's radio said a word I needed
She was singing through the wall, thin as paper
And I thought, if she can sing it, I can sing it
Nothing in my hands but a Sunday-morning promise
Nothing at the window but a gray sky leaning
(Gray sky leaning)

Take the horns out, take the bass out
Hear the hallway breathing
One more step, one more step
Open up your mouth
(Open it up)

Shout before the door opens
Shout before the key turns
Shout before you see it, child
Let the hallway hear you earn it
(Shout!) Shout before the light comes
Faith is a thing you do with your feet first
Open, open, open
(Open, open, open)
Ngiyabonga, ngiyabonga
(Before it comes)

Then the landlord called my name out, soft, not angry
He said the church had left a note beneath the doormat
Somebody I'd never met had paid the quarter
I had not even asked, I had not seen it coming
And I thought of all the days I waited quiet
Holding in my gladness till the proof arrived
And the stairwell filled with neighbors
Everybody saying yes before the news
Now I know the order, now I know the secret
(Know the secret)
Praise goes in the first seat, proof comes in behind it
(Behind it)

Shout before the door opens
Shout before the key turns
Shout before you see it, child
Let the hallway hear you earn it

Quiet now, quiet now

Quiet now, quiet now
Hear the hinge before it moves
(Hear it)
Somebody on the other side is smiling
Somebody on the other side is waiting
(Waiting)
Somebody on the other side is humming
One, two, three, four
One, two, three, four

Take the horns out, take the bass out
Hear the whole street breathing
One more step, one more step
Open up your mouth
(Open it up)

Shout before the door opens
Shout before the key turns
Shout before you see it, child
Let the whole street hear you earn it
(Shout!) Shout before the light comes
Open, open, open
(Open, open, open)
Hallelujah, hear it knocking
(Knocking, knocking, knocking)
Hallelujah, hear it knocking
Shout!

Shout before the door opens
Shout before the door opens
Shout!
Shout before the door opens
Shout!