Routine

[Part I]

[Verse 1: Steven Wilson]

What do I do with all the children's clothes?

Such tiny things that still smell of them

And the footprints in the hallway

Onto my knees, scrub them away

And how to be of use? Make the tea and the soup

All of their favourites, throw them away

And all their schoolbooks, and their running shoes

Washing them clean in the dirty steel sink

[Chorus: Ninet Tayeb]

Routine keeps me in line

Helps me pass the time

Concentrates my mind

Helps me to sleep

[Verse 2: Steven Wilson]

Keep making beds, and keep the cat fed

Open the windows, let the air in

Keep the house clean, and keep the routine

Paintings they made still stuck to the fridge

[Refrain: Steven Wilson & Ninet Tayeb]

La da-da, dah

La da-da, dah

Da, da-da-da

La, la-da-da

La da-da, dah

La da-da, dah

Da, da-da-da

La, da-da-da

[Outro: Leo Blair]

Mother I am far from you

Left behind a dream of my youth

All these years now gone

[Part II]

[Instrumental Intro]

[Verse: Ninet Tayeb, Steven Wilson & Ninet Tayeb]

Keep cleaning, keep ironing

Cooking their meals on the stainless steel hob

Keep washing, keep scrubbing

Long until the dark comes to bruise the sky

Deep in debt to night

[Chorus: Ninet Tayeb]

Routine keeps me in line

Helps me pass the time

Helps me to sleep

Routine keeps me in line

Helps me pass the time, —ime, —ime

Helps me to sleep

[Breakdown: Ninet Tayeb]

Ah-ah-ah

[Outro: Steven Wilson, Ninet Tayeb & Steven Wilson]

The most beautiful morning, forever

Like the ones from far off, far off away

With the hum of the bees in the jasmine sway

Don't ever let go

Try to let go

Don't ever let go

Try to let go

Don't ever—