Chipped Linoleum

[Intro]
[Verse]
Dusty crates on the floor
Rusty hinges on the door
Crusty glass in the back
Musty scent on the rack
Chipped linoleum under my feet
Heart of the whole street
Handwritten tabs in a book
Give it a second look
Penny candy in the jar
Feeling like a local star
Bread scent in the air
Worn out wooden chair
[Pre-Chorus]
Warm horns start to blow
Where did the history go?
Vinyl crackle in the air
Do the suits even care?
[Chorus]
Dollar signs on the glass
Letting the memories pass
They bought the block for cheap
While the city’s asleep
No more credit on the tab
Just a corporate grab
Neon sign hauled away
Not a word left to say
[Verse]
Muted soul in the loop
Kids sitting on the stoop
Now the shelves look the same
Just a corporate brand name
Systemic weight on the scale
Another dream for sale
Deep bass hits the chest
Put the legacy to rest
Hard work for fifty years
Washed away in silent tears
Yellow tape on the gate
Handed down by the state
[Bridge]
The ink is starting to fade
On the promises they made
D minor blues in the key
Of what used to be free
Small towns losing their soul
To a bottom-line goal
The foundation is cracked
And we can’t take it back
[Verse]
Owner stands on the street
Feeling the heat of defeat
Trucks moving the heavy weight
Seal the community’s fate
Internal rhymes in the dark
Searching for a single spark
But the light is flickering out
Ending the shadow of doubt
The OPEN sign is gone
Before the break of dawn
Now the aisle is cold
And the story is told
[Chorus]
Dollar signs on the glass
Letting the memories pass
They bought the block for cheap
While the city’s asleep
No more credit on the tab
Just a corporate grab
Neon sign hauled away
Not a word left to say
[Post-Chorus]
Chipped linoleum
Chipped linoleum
They took the heart
And tore it apart
Chipped linoleum
Chipped linoleum
[Outro]