Incredibly beautiful, existential, transcendent...for me, speaks of a God who comes to us in many ways and many places; a diner, a bar, a church, a late night gathering...moments when our deepest pains and treasures are unloaded, when that which we receive is a touch of kindness, a word of hope, a message of forgiveness, rebuilding and new life. One can see in the phrase "eggs and toast like bread and wine" overtones of the Eucharistic giving of Jesus Christ. I was stunned as I listened to this in my car, tears flowing, giving thanks for all these "ordinary" things in life that are moments of wonder, touching on the great Mystery of now and beyond. A time also to give thanks for my wife of 41 years, who passed on to that great Mystery on January of this year. Thanks be to God for His wonderful gifts.
What a marvelous little slice of life song that captures the spirit of middle America. Something we need more of these days . Thank you Carrie Newcomer for this wonderful song!
Thanks for posting this video. Carrie Newcomer is an incredible musician and person, and this is truly one of my favourites from her, an amazing song, with all of the imagery , contrast and beauty each life entails. Hartley C.
I recently met Carrie when she played a number of her songs at Trinity Episcopal Church here in Indianapolis in a program with Philip Gulley, a Quaker pastor, on God's response to violence in our communities
I don't think, through the many years I have heard this song, that I have ever gotten through without being weepy. I want to know where Betty's Diner is.
Me too!!!! Someone sang it at church--I never go but went that day. I can't stop listening to it and love so many other songs too--reminds me a bit of Mary Chapin Carpender who I also love.
Miranda works the late night counter In a joint called Betty's Diner Chrome and checkered tablecloths One steamy windowpane She got the job that shaky fall And after hours she'll write till dawn With a nod and smile she serves them all Here we are all in one place The wants and wounds of the human race Despair and hope sit face to face When you come in from the cold Let her fill your cup with something kind Eggs and toast like bread and wine She's heard it all so she don't mind Arthur lets his earl gray steep Since April it's been hard to sleep You know they tried most everything Yet it took her in the end Kevin tests new saxophones But swears he's leaving quality control For the Chicago scene, or New Orleans Where they still play righteous horns Here we are all in one place The wants and wounds of the human race Despair and hope sit face to face When you come in from the cold Let her fill your cup with something kind Eggs and toast like bread and wine She's heard it all so she don't mind Jack studies here after work To get past high school he's the first And his large hands seem just as comfortable With a hammer or a pen Emma leaned and kissed his cheek And when she did his knees got weak Miranda smiles at 'em and winks Here we are all in one place The wants and wounds of the human race Despair and hope sit face to face When you come in from the cold Let her fill your cup with something kind Eggs and toast like bread and wine She's heard it all so she don't mind You never know who'll be your witness You never know who grants forgiveness Look to heaven or sit with us Deidre bites her lip and frowns She works the stop and go downtown She's pretty good at the crossword page And she paints her eyes blue black Tristan comes along sometimes Small for his age and he's barely five But she loves him like a mama lion Veda used to drink a lot Almost lost it all before she stopped Comes in at night with her friend Mike Who runs the crisis line Michael toured Saigon and back Hair the color of smoke and ash Their heads are bowed and hands are clasped One more storm has passed Here we are all in one place The wants and wounds of the human race Despair and hope sit face to face When you come in from the cold Let her fill your cup with something kind Eggs and toast like bread and wine She's heard it all so she don't mind Songwriter: Carrie Newcomer
If I were ever to have a requiem you could put the entirety of Carrie's recordings on a loop and play them continuously while everyone could mingle and talk or not....
BETTY’S DINER Carrie Newcomer Miranda words the late night counter In a joint called Betty’s Diner Chrome and checkered tablecloths one steamy windowpane She got the job that shaky fall And after hours she’ll write til dawn With a nod and smile she serves them all CHORUS: here we are all in one place The wants and wounds of the human race Despair and hope sit face to face When you come in from the cold Let her fill your cup with something kind Eggs and toast like bread and wine She’s heard it all so she don’t mind Arthur lets his earl grey steep Since April it’s been hard to sleep You know they tried most everything Yet it took her in the end Kevin tests new saxophones But swears he’s leaving quality control For the Chicago scene, or New Orleans Where they still play righteous horns Jack studies here after work To get past high school he’s the first And his large hands seem just as comfortable With a hammer or a pen Emma leaned and kissed his cheek And when she did his knees got weak Miranda smiles at Em and winks Here we are all in one place The wants and wounds of the human race Despair and hope sit face to face When you come in from the cold Let her fill your cup with something kind Eggs and toast like bread and wine She's heard it all so she don't mind You never know who’ll be your witness You never know who grants forgiveness Look to heaven or sit with us Deidra bites her lip and frowns She works the Stop and Go downtown She’s pretty good at the crossword page She paints her eyes blue black Tristan come along sometimes Small for his age and barely five But she loves him like a mamma lion Veda used to drink a lot Almost lost it all before she stopped Comes in at night with her friend Mike Who runs the crisis line Michael toured Saigon and back Hair the color of smoke and ash Heads are bowed and hands are clasped One more storm has passed Here we are all in one place The wants and wounds of the human race Despair and hope sit face to face When you come in from the cold Let her fill your cup with something kind Eggs and toast like bread and wine She's heard it all so she don't mind
