That Blue Cup

Lyrics

[Verse 1] You left your blue cup by the kitchen sink And a grocery list in your careful hand “Coffee, flour, apples,” in a slanting line Like you’d be home by suppertime again I still take the long road past the mill Though the bridge is out and the creek runs low Some habits hold like a pocketknife Some roads just don’t know where to go [Chorus] That old porch swing keeps time all night One chain squeaks where your shoulder leaned I mend the screen, I sweep the steps I keep the garden rows turned green If you come back by the county line There’ll be a lamp beside the door And that blue cup waiting by the sink Like it was waiting here before [Verse 2] Your brother brought the mower by last week Said the west field’s coming in just fine He asked if I had heard from you I said, “Not since the county fair in July” The pie tin’s stacked beneath the shelf Your recipe is tucked inside I know the pinch of salt by heart But I still leave room for you to try [Chorus] That old porch swing keeps time all night One chain squeaks where your shoulder leaned I mend the screen, I sweep the steps I keep the garden rows turned green If you come back by the county line There’ll be a lamp beside the door And that blue cup waiting by the sink Like it was waiting here before [Instrumental Break] [Bridge] Maybe home is just a little thing A familiar gate, a kitchen chair A name you hear across the yard And somebody glad to find you there [Final Chorus] That old porch swing keeps time all night Both chains singing in the summer breeze I’ll mend the screen, I’ll sweep the steps Leave the garden open to the bees If you come back by the county line There’ll be a lamp beside the door And that blue cup waiting by the sink Like it was waiting here before [Outro] That blue cup waiting by the sink Like it was waiting here before