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      Deidra 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