Morning Rituals: Paws, Coffee, & Hello

Lyrics

[Intro]
Seven AM.
The air is still cool on St. Charles.
The porch light is still on.

[Verse 1]
My ceramic mug, warm in my hands.
The first sip is always the promise.
The leash pulls tight, a gentle demand.
Down Greenwood Avenue, where the big oaks hold the light.
And the dew is still silver on the blades of the grass.
We are the first ones to make a path.

[Chorus]
Paws on the pavement, cracked and old.
Coffee in my hand, a story to be told.
A quiet hello, a nod of the head.
The simple, unspoken things that are said.
This is the rhythm, steady and slow.
Paws, and coffee, and hello.

[Verse 2]
There's the Labradoodle from Orme Park.
I think his name is Gus.
His person just smiles, no need for a fuss.
We know the dogs' names before the people.
We pass the corner where the good coffee was.
San Francisco Coffee... a ghost in the morning buzz.
Still, the ritual holds.

[Chorus]
Paws on the pavement, cracked and old.
Coffee in my hand, a story to be told.
A quiet hello, a nod of the head.
The simple, unspoken things that are said.
This is the rhythm, steady and slow.
Paws, and coffee, and hello.

[Bridge]
And the whole neighborhood is breathing in.
A slow, collective, steady sigh.
A porch swing is creaking a forgotten hymn.
A garbage truck rumbles on North Highland high.
Another day written against the same Atlanta sky.
Year after year, the same reasons why.

[Outro]
Back on the steps now.
The mug is nearly cool.
The dog finds a sunbeam by the door.
And the day begins.