Last Call: Atlanta Tells You What Time It Is

Lyrics

[Intro]

[Verse 1]
You remember the crack in the red vinyl?
The booth by the window on Ponce de Leon.
We traced the scar with a thumbnail, watched the headlights blur into one.
The neon sign for 'Bud' had a permanent flicker, a nervous stutter in the August heat.
Like it was trying to tell us a secret.
Like it was running out of time on our street.

[Chorus]
And the house lights come up, and you hear the last call.
It ain't just for the night, friends, it's for the wrecking ball.
This is Atlanta, she's a city in a hurry.
She'll apply the axe herself, tell a whole new story.

[Verse 2]
From the white-tablecloth cathedrals down in Buckhead...
to the sticky floors where the real work got done.
From the jerk chicken smoke in Little Five Points...
to the three-dollar tortillas underneath the sun.
We built our little kingdoms in the corners of these rooms.
Now they're parking decks with a perfect view.
Of another new building with no memory of you.

[Chorus]
And the house lights come up, and you hear the last call.
It ain't just for the night, friends, it's for the wrecking ball.
This is Atlanta, she's a city in a hurry.
She'll apply the axe herself, tell a whole new story.

[Bridge]
I swear sometimes, driving home late, I can still see the light on.
Still hear the jukebox playing that one tired old song.
You turn your head, just for a second, a trick of the rain on the glass...
And it’s gone.
It was always already gone.

[Chorus]
AND THE HOUSE LIGHTS COME UP, AND YOU HEAR THE LAST CALL!
IT AIN'T JUST FOR THE NIGHT, FRIENDS, IT'S FOR THE WRECKING BALL!
THIS IS ATLANTA, SHE'S A CITY IN A HURRY!
SHE'LL APPLY THE AXE HERSELF, TELL A WHOLE NEW STORY!

[Outro]
Last call...
Drink 'em up.
Go on home now.