Lyrics

My name is Alex Cassiek [?], and I run a small bar in the Zamalek district of Cairo. I work long hours, keep the place tidy, keep good order, keep a good reputation with the police. Been here 6 years, but I wouldn't say I'm settled, I just live here. I'm 36, I'm in reasonable shape I, keep the alcohol abuse in its place, I'm extremely pleased with myself Tonight, well, it's a pretty normal night. We've got the expats, we've got local businessmen, the odd backpacker, the odd student. And they all sit around watching MTV, and eyeing each other up And it's quiet except for this couple of German cotton buyers, who both turn out to come from Munich, and get into a heated row about the worth of marriage, and [?] and 1868, and uh, when they get a bit too loud, I move in, calm things down, make a couple crap jokes Everything's cool They shake hands, make some plans for the night, and uh head off together through the back door Which comes as some surprise to me becuase I've been here six years, and I never knew there WAS a back door I walk over. Stare at it. I'd swear it wasn't there before. But there it is. And I'm not even sure where it's gonna come out So I try it. Turn the handle, and step out into… Munich I've stepped right out onto the Kaufingerstraße, surrounded by crowds of people going shopping, going drinking I don't move. My heart's beating very fast, and I'm wondering if too much experimentation in my past is, coming back to haunt me But this is no hallucination These are real living breathing people I turn round, and the door's still there I go back inside, and yes it's the same bar it's the same bar but as I look to my left as I walk through, there's another door, just like this one I look at the door. I feel like the door's looking back And if the door could smile, this one would have a nasty spiny-toothed sarcastic smirk from its beaten-up laminated face Gotta do it. Got no choice I'll go through This is the Shibuya district of Tokyo. I remember it well Taught English here once The arabic neon signs became European neon signs and now Japanese neon signs Same neon, different script Now two Japanese girls slip past me and walk through the door I follow them back and watch them take seats in the corner of the bar I remember them now they'd been in here a couple of times I thought they were tourists They think I'm a tourist I turn round and, breathe out fast as, down the back corridor by the bins there's doors, doors, doors I spend the rest of the night travelling, without going anywhere Chicago Jakarta Helsinki Cape Town São Paulo Manchester Bangalore And somewhere in Russia I can't actually remember the name of I spend so much time on the move Working, teaching, surviving Ducking and diving And now it feels like I never went anywhere Of all the bars, in all the world, maybe you're always gonna come to the same one Into the same bar Sitting on the same stool Drinking the same beer Wearing the same shoes Eating the same food Sitting on the same stool Drinking the same beer Wearing the same shoes Eating the same food Sitting on the same stool Drinking the same beer Wearing the same shoes Eating the same food Sitting on the same stool Drinking the same beer Wearing the same shoes Eating the same food Sitting on the same stool Drinking the same beer Wearing the same shoes Eating the same food Sitting on the same stool Drinking the same beer Wearing the same shoes Eating the same food Sitting on the same stool Drinking the same beer Wearing the same shoes Eating the same food