Dreaming by continent

Dreaming by Continent

[VERSE 1 — COMPLETELY AMERICAN, BLAND, SQUARE AND RESTRAINED]

Chicken baked at three-seventy-five,
Mashed potatoes keeping us alive.
Green beans, butter, salt and peas,
Nothing here to frighten the cheese.

Black pepper? Sure, but not too much.
Garlic powder? Just a touch.
Dinner done by half past eight,
Dreamed about mowing by the gate.

[TRANSITION — SITAR ENTERS GRADUALLY. AMERICAN ARRANGEMENT GIVES WAY TO INDIA.]

Then somebody said, “Try cumin.”
Somebody else said, “Toast the spice.”
Next thing you know there’s ginger flying—
Lord, this kitchen changed overnight.

[CHORUS — FULL INDIAN-INSPIRED ARRANGEMENT. SITAR, TABLA, TANPURA, HAND PERCUSSION.]

Now we’re dreaming by continent,
Curry running through our head.
Used to dream of hardware stores,
Now there’s elephants by the bed.

Cardamom and coriander,
Turmeric glowing neon bright,
We used to sleep in beige and khaki—
Now Delhi shows up every night.

[VERSE 2 — CONTINUE INDIAN GROOVE]

Chicken, okra, basmati rice,
We said, “Well damn, that’s awfully nice.”
Chile hit and the ceiling spun,
Richard said, “This dinner’s fun.”

[HARD TRANSITION — INDIAN MUSIC STOPS. WEST AFRICAN RHYTHM TAKES OVER.]

Then came jollof, red and bold,
West Africa marched through the stove.
Tomato, pepper, smoke and heat—
Our old casserole surrendered in defeat.

[CHORUS — WEST AFRICAN-INSPIRED GROOVE. SYNCOPATED DRUMS, HAND PERCUSSION, BASS, BRIGHT RHYTHMIC GUITAR.]

Now we’re dreaming by continent,
Crossing oceans after ten.
Used to count some sheep at night,
Now we’re in Lagos by eleven.

Pepper dancing with tomato,
Every pot has something new.
Used to ask, “Where is the gravy?”
Now we ask, “What country’s next to do?”

[HARD TRANSITION — WEST AFRICAN GROOVE DROPS OUT. GUZHENG AND DIZI ENTER, FOLLOWED BY ERHU.]

Then came suāncài, sour and bright,
Napa cabbage changed the night.
Pork and broth and pickled greens—
Suddenly we’re northeast Chinese.

Ginger floating, garlic too,
Something sour cuts right through.
One more bowl and off we go—
Dreaming somewhere under Harbin snow.

[CHORUS — CHINESE-INSPIRED ARRANGEMENT. GUZHENG, ERHU, DIZI FLUTE, LIGHT PERCUSSION.]

Now we’re dreaming by continent,
Every supper changes scenes.
Last night Delhi, then came Lagos,
Tonight it’s cabbage, pork and dreams.

Guzheng ringing through the kitchen,
Steam is climbing toward the light.
We used to eat in black and white—
Now Beijing’s stopping by at night.

[VERSE 4 — PLAYFUL MUSICAL TOUR. BEGIN BLENDING WORLD INSTRUMENTS.]

Then Mexico brought chile rojo,
Thailand sent the coconut milk,
Italy rolled in with pasta,
France arrived all cream and silk.

Greece brought lemon, Spain brought saffron,
Japan whispered soy and steam,
Apparently our little kitchen
Has become a travel agency for dreams.

[BRIDGE — PLAYFUL BLEND OF INDIAN, WEST AFRICAN AND CHINESE INSTRUMENTS.]

Maybe folks in Delhi sleep
And dream of tuna casserole.
Maybe someone down in Lagos
Wants some meatloaf in a bowl.

Maybe somewhere up in Harbin
Someone’s dreaming mashed potatoes too—
What feels wild and exotic to us
Might be Tuesday night to you.

[FINAL CHORUS — HUGE MULTICULTURAL FINALE. SITAR, TABLA, WEST AFRICAN PERCUSSION, RHYTHMIC GUITAR, GUZHENG, ERHU, DIZI, BASS AND BACKING VOCALS.]

We’re dreaming by continent,
One loud supper at a time.
India, Africa and China
Running circles through our mind.

Pass the jollof, bring the curry,
Put the suāncài in the light.
We used to eat in black and white—
Now we’re dreaming Technicolor every night.

[REPEAT — BIGGER]

We’re dreaming by continent,
And the whole world’s on the stove.
Every pot becomes a passport,
Every supper makes us roam.

We may still be home in Georgia,
But the kitchen takes us flight—
We used to eat in black and white—
Now we’re dreaming Technicolor every night.

[HARD STOP]

[OUTRO — RETURN TO EXACT SAME BLAND AMERICAN PIANO FROM INTRO. NO WORLD INSTRUMENTS.]

Tomorrow night…

meatloaf.

[PAUSE]

Maybe a little black pepper.

[ONE SHORT SITAR NOTE]

Whoa.

Not too much.