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fine china

Name: fine china
Description: The best of her is saved for a visit that never comes, and the door stays locked on the people who would have stayed through anything. Unanswered messages pile up like debt until the next one arrives heavier than the last.

BEST PLATES RESERVED
VISITORS: NONE
TOMORROW DEFERRED

“I keep the fine china saved for company”

CASE NOTE

The best of her is saved for a visit that never comes, and the door stays locked on the people who would have stayed through anything. Unanswered messages pile up like debt until the next one arrives heavier than the last.

Built to sound like a lullaby, the song carries what could not be said plainly. It arrives on the beep left by Idling and hands straight over to LA LA LIE.

IN HER WORDS / HAYLIE FERGUSON

“People hear the title and expect something delicate and pretty, and on the surface that's exactly what it is. The chords are soft, some of the lines even sound content. That was the plan all along. I needed to hide certain things inside something that sounded like a lullaby, because I couldn't say them straight out. That's where I talk about the celibacy that wasn't a choice, that came after something got taken from me and my body just closed the door on its own. And it's also where the Esther chapter turns. I needed both of those things to live inside something fragile that still manages to stay standing, which is basically what fine china is. It survives as long as nobody touches it the wrong way.”

LYRICS / TRANSCRIPT

Verse 1

I bought fine china in a mossy green

To match the couch that almost swallowed me

Night after night I vanished in its seams

Pre-Chorus

And the ones who loved me most

Were the easiest to lose

They would have stayed through anything

So I gave them nothing to choose

Chorus

I keep the fine china saved for company

I keep the cups, I keep the mess

I keep the door locked on the ones I love the best

I keep saying

Tomorrow (tomorrow)

But tomorrow might never come

Verse 2

I was the one who checked if everyone was breathing

But no one's checked if I was gasping for air

Got so good at teaching everyone to swim

Forgot I was the one still drowning there

I kept the lights on for the passing eyes

While darkness rented every room inside

Pre-Chorus

And the ones who claimed they loved me

Were the easiest to lose

Because I thought they wouldn't leave

I gave them every reason to

Chorus

I keep the fine china saved for company

I keep the curtains drawn, I keep the mess

I held the calls that never left my chest

Tomorrow (tomorrow)

But tomorrow might never come

Bridge

The ones I love the most I loved them last

Isn't that somethi-i-ng? (thing-thing)

Isn't that just like me? (e-e-e)

I thought they'd stay

(Stay, stay)

So I let them wait

(Wait, wait)

I used their patience as my alibi

The message came and I read it twice

The longer I waited the harder the reply

Every unanswered one built a debt in my head

Till the next one came in, felt heavier than the last

Like I didn't choose it (like I didn't choose it)

Like I didn't choose it

Every single time

Rain doesn't ask who deserves to grow

Morning never questions what the night couldn't hold

Chorus

I used the fine china and I ate alone

After all I think they got tired of the mourning

No more tomorrow (tomorrow)

Tomorrow (tomorrow)

I hope there's no tomorrow at all

Outro

The floor is clean and I don't know what clean is for

The velvet green couch still holds my shape

And the tear-stained seams

One shard beside the bed, I'm working on it

I'm working on it

Maybe tomorrow is clee-

PUBLISHED CREDITS

ARTIST: Haylie Ferguson
EDITION: the bell jar: victoria lucas
LABEL: Maison Oblique Entertainment

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