You parked across the hydrant
Like the law had gone to lunch
Brought six supermarket daisies
Held together with a rubber band

Said “I’ve been doing lots of thinking”
With the posture of a judge
Then set one careful “sorry”
On my counter still unopened

You pressed your palm against your chest
Like cameras filled the hall
I asked for one clean answer
You gave the director’s cut

Keep the receipt sweetheart
This apology runs small
It pinches where the truth should fit
And hangs loose everywhere else

Keep the receipt sweetheart
Take the whole display with you
You brought me something called “I’m sorry”
But the tag says “almost true”

Almost true almost true
Look at you improving

You said your phone had lost its manners
Your watch was running scared
Your friends had formed a committee
And voted you unprepared

Your mother took the witness stand
Your therapist was quoted
I asked “Did you sleep with her?”
You said “The wording feels loaded”

You lowered your voice an octave
That trick you save for court
I asked where you were Tuesday
You gave the weather report

Keep the receipt sweetheart
This apology runs small
It pinches where the truth should fit
And hangs loose everywhere else

Keep the receipt sweetheart
Take the whole display with you
You brought me something called “I’m sorry”
But the tag says “almost true”

No don’t kneel; the floor is clean
Don’t swear on anybody’s grave
Skip the trembling lower lip
You practiced beside the valet

I’m just taking inventory:
One key two names three hotel pens
You may keep the supermarket daisies
They’ve heard the whole defense

Keep the receipt sweetheart
This apology runs small
It pinches where the truth should fit
And hangs loose everywhere else

Keep the receipt sweetheart
Take your grand performance too
You brought me something called “I’m sorry”
But the tag says “almost true”

Almost true almost true
Look at you improving

“Need a bag?”
“No he came with one”

The wind has names I’ve learned to fear
But I keep walking year by year

I’ve held my heart with stitched-up hands
Buried truths in foreign lands
Danced alone on broken stone
And built a fire where none had grown

They said I’m done they closed the door
But I’ve been dying long before

Still I rise through ashes and lies
With dust on my skin and fire in my eyes
You can push you can bend
But I’m no stranger to the end
Still I rise… still I rise

I’ve kissed betrayal’s bitter breath
Slept beside the arms of death
But sorrow taught me how to spin
A rhythm born from deep within

I don’t need a crown of gold
I wear my silence loud and bold

Still I rise through ashes and lies
With dust on my skin and fire in my eyes
You can push you can bend
But I’m no stranger to the end
Still I rise… still I rise

Don’t tell me how the story ends
I write in steps not with a pen
And every scar I’ve come to own
Beats louder than your stepping stone

Still I rise through thunder and cries
My tears are sharp but they never lie
You can leave you can hide
But I’ve got rhythm on my side
Still I rise… still I rise

You left your scarf on my chair
Cheap red thread and summer air
I still fold it by the door
Like you might come back for more

And I know I know
It was never clean
But your name
Still shakes the seams

Paper cup summer
You still taste like that
Paper cup summer
Gone fast came back
I keep one small match
For the dark you made
Paper cup summer
Won't fade won't fade

Bus stop rain on your shoes
You laughed like you had bad news
In the park under the trees
You said "Don't make a promise to me"

And I know I know
We were shaking hard
Two wild hearts
In a borrowed car

Paper cup summer
You still taste like that
Paper cup summer
Gone fast came back
I keep one small match
For the dark you made
Paper cup summer
Won't fade won't fade

Now the corner store's closed early
The peach gum on your sleeve still hurts me
If I call would you hear my voice?
Or just the noise just the noise

Paper cup summer
You still taste like that
Paper cup summer
Gone fast came back
I keep one small match
For the dark you made
Paper cup summer
Won't fade won't fade

You left me crying
But I came back dancing
Mm
I came back dancing

You took the keys
But not the door
You took your coat
But not the storm

I kept the dress
You never liked
Put on my heels
And killed the lights

You thought I’d call
You thought I’d break
You thought my heart
Would learn your name

But I found myself
At half past two
In a crowded room
Not missing you

I let the mirror see me
With my makeup running
Then I wiped it clean
Like I saw you coming

You were the lesson
I was the flame
You left the woman
But she changed her name

You left me lonely
Left me hurting
Left me standing in the rain

Now I’m moving
Now I’m burning
Now I’m dancing through the pain

You don’t get to hold me
When I’m finally free
You don’t get the old me
She don’t answer for me

You left me crying
But I came back dancing
You left me dying
But I came back dancing

Da-da-da-dancing
I came back dancing
Da-da-da-dancing
I came back dancing

I saw your friends
They looked surprised
Like I should hide
Like I should cry

I smiled so sweet
They looked away
I guess revenge
Can wear a face

No angry texts
No midnight scene
No begging you
To come to me

I changed the song
I changed the room
I changed the girl
Who waited for you

I let the mirror see me
With my heart wide open
Then I sewed it up
With a little gold thread

You were the reason
I hit the ground
But I’m the reason
I’m rising now

You left me lonely
Left me hurting
Left me standing in the rain

Now I’m moving
Now I’m burning
Now I’m dancing through the pain

You don’t get to hold me
When I’m finally free
You don’t get the old me
She don’t answer for me

You left me crying
But I came back dancing
You left me dying
But I came back dancing

Da-da-da-dancing
I came back dancing
Da-da-da-dancing
I came back dancing

I was a house with the windows open
You were the match in a careless hand
I was the girl who kept forgiving
Now I’m the woman you can’t command

I don’t hate you
That’s too easy
I don’t need you
That’s the twist

I don’t want you
To come save me
I just want you
To see this

You left me lonely
Left me hurting
Left me standing in the rain

Now I’m moving
Now I’m burning
Now I’m dancing through the pain

You don’t get to hold me
When I’m finally free
You don’t get the old me
She don’t answer for me

You left me crying
But I came back dancing
You left me dying
But I came back dancing

You left me lonely
But I came back shining
You left me broken
But I came back diamond

You left me crying
But I came back dancing

Da-da-da-dancing
I came back dancing

Eight-oh-five by Saint Michel
Kola had a cake box under one arm
one red shoe in the other hand
He said “My aunt turns sixty”

I heard “aunt” “cake” and “Saturday”
and supplied the missing cinema myself
At Idris’ barbershop I said
“Maybe the man is getting married”

Idris did not repeat my sentence
He gave it catering witnesses
and a cousin arriving from Marseille
with three phones and firm opinions

By nine-fifteen the taxi rank knew the venue
By ten the tailor had chosen gold
By eleven Auntie Binta had named two children
Kola was still looking for candles

Who told you?
No be me
Who confirmed it?
Nobody

Radio trottoir radio trottoir
one little “maybe” took a motorbike
Dem don carry am go dem don add pepper
by lunch that man was married twice

At one he had married the mayor’s niece
At two he had bought a flat in Lisbon
At three he had left her for a singer
whose name nobody could pronounce

At four the church committee wanted answers
about a generator no one had lost
At five I tried to stop the story
That became “He knows more than he is saying”

At six my mother called me:
“Wear something decent
Apparently you are giving the speech
And bring your own chair”

I found Kola beside the pharmacy
still carrying the same red shoe
The cake was for Aunt Mariam
The shoe had fallen from her shopping bag

He stared at me for seven quiet seconds
then asked who I planned to marry
I laughed exactly once
That was my second mistake

Who told you?
No be me
Who confirmed it?
Nobody

Radio trottoir radio trottoir
one little “maybe” took a motorbike
Dem don carry am go dem don add pepper
by lunch that man was married twice

I went home to hide from the bulletin
My neighbour had prepared rice
My sister said a woman named Celeste
had accepted me on my behalf

Who is Celeste? Nobody knows
She may be a dentist
She may be in Dakar
She may have started at Idris’ second chair

My mother likes her already
She says Celeste sounds responsible
There are now two cakes in the kitchen
Neither one belongs to Kola

Wetin happen?
Ask the barber
Who start am?
No be me
Where proof dey?
It left by taxi
Can you stop am?
You fit try

Radio trottoir radio trottoir
no antenna no editor no brakes
By sunset Kola ran the ministry
by midnight I was cutting a second cake

Radio trottoir radio trottoir
every correction opens another branch
I only said “Maybe he is getting married”
Now Celeste is discussing curtains with my aunt

Kola brought the candles
My mother served the rice
Idris arrived with invitations

No be me

Ladies and gentlemen
From Vienna to Miami
From the palace to the party
They call him
Disco Machiavelli

Not a prince
Not a saint
Just trouble in a velvet jacket

He walks in late with a golden cane
White silk shirt and a champagne stain
Everybody knows but nobody tells
He buys bad luck and sells it well

Midnight phone no caller ID
Three black cars on a one-way street
He says “my dear don’t follow the rules”
Then disappears by the swimming pool

He’s got the city on a string
He makes the mirror wanna sing
Too much charm too much heat
Dancing like a scandal in the street

Disco Machiavelli
Oh-oh he’s ready
Heart so heavy
But the beat so steady

Disco Machiavelli
Ciao baby ciao
Everybody wants him
Nobody knows how

Machiavelli
Machiavelli
Nicht so schnell mein Freund

She met him once at the Hotel Noir
Red wine smile and a stolen car
He said “love is politics darling you’ll see”
Then left her name on the balcony

Velvet gloves dangerous plans
Kissing rings on invisible hands
He don’t dance he negotiates
With the DJ and the city gates

He’s got the night under control
Silver shoes and a borrowed soul
Too much style too much speed
Living like the headline of the week

Disco Machiavelli
Oh-oh he’s ready
Heart so heavy
But the beat so steady

Disco Machiavelli
Ciao baby ciao
Everybody wants him
Nobody knows how

Signorina
Listen carefully
Power is a dance floor
And everybody pays entry

He said it with a smile
Then he vanished in the bassline

Machiavelli
Machiavelli
Dance with the devil
But dress like heaven

Machiavelli
Machiavelli
Too much drama
Too much leather

Disco Machiavelli
Oh-oh he’s ready
Heart so heavy
But the beat so steady

Disco Machiavelli
Ciao baby ciao
Everybody wants him
Nobody knows how

Disco Machiavelli
Oh-oh he’s ready
Velvet panic
Television confetti

Disco Machiavelli
Ciao baby ciao
He was here for a minute
He’s a legend now

From Vienna to Miami
From the palace to the party

Disco Machiavelli

Ciao baby ciao