Thick Mother Tongue

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[Intro]

Soft tabla, distant traffic, mellow guitar

Sun coming up over Delhi, chai in my hand,

Auto on the corner, horns going again.

Rickshaw flying past like he’s late for a flight,

Another normal morning in the city waking up bright.

[Verse 1]

Step outside, sandals on the street,

Paratha on the tawa, smell too good to leave.

Uncle at the stall says, “Beta, come eat,”

I said, “I’m running late,” he said, “Sit down, take a seat.”

Metro packed tight, everybody got somewhere to be,

Phone in my pocket, music playing quietly.

Delhi moving fast but I’m moving with the flow,

From Connaught Place down to where the old streets glow.

Sun getting higher, traffic getting loud,

Scooters weaving through the middle of the crowd.

Little bit of chaos, but I wouldn't trade the scene,

This city got a heartbeat underneath the machines.

[Pre]

And when the afternoon heat starts coming through,

I already know exactly what I'm gonna do.

Call my brother like, “Yo, you know what I need?”

He laughs on the phone—

“Bro, I know, I know, you mean…”

[Chorus]

Butter chicken, naan on the side,

Nashville heat with that Delhi spice.

Cream in the sauce, got the whole room smelling nice,

One more piece of chicken—

Yeah, I’m staying for the night.

Butter chicken, let the gravy run,

Everybody at the table having way too much fun.

Delhi nights coming, but the day ain't done,

Pass me that naan, bro—

I’m not finished, son.

[Verse 2]

Afternoon, rooftop, trying to catch some shade,

Chai getting poured while the plans get made.

Friend says, “Let's go,” I say, “Where we heading?”

Twenty minutes later, somehow everybody's already ready.

Back on the streets when the sun goes low,

Market lights shining and the whole place glows.

Street food sizzling, smoke rising in the air,

Everybody bargaining like they don't have a care.

Then my brother pulls up with the food in his hand,

I look at that sandwich like, “Finally, my man.”

Nashville butter chicken, crispy, golden brown,

One bite and I'm like,

“Yeah… don't put that down.”

[Bridge]

Delhi don't sleep, so neither do we,

Lights in the distance, city underneath.

From morning chai to the late-night streets,

There's always something cooking, always something to eat.

[Chorus]

Butter chicken, naan on the side,

Nashville heat with that Delhi spice.

Long day behind me but the food feels right,

Sitting with the family underneath the city lights.

Butter chicken, gravy on my sleeve,

I said I wanted one—

Now I got three.

Delhi in my heart, food on my mind,

Another day in New Delhi,

And we're doing just fine.

[OUTRO]

Tabla fades in with soft guitar

Tomorrow morning, same streets, same chai…

Same brother asking,

“Chicken again?”

“…yeah.”