‘Down At The Diner’ is a song written to be the opening number for Waitress the Musical, that was eventually replaced with ‘Opening Up‘.

Sara Bareilles originally performed the song live at the Broadway production on 30 March 2016, when there was a technical difficulty. It was also performed on 17 December 2017, when Eric Anderson left the show. A special part of the song was performed on 12 March 2018 at curtain call, to celebrate Sara’s last performance in the show.

The song was also performed to celebrate the 1000th performance of the show on 19 September 2018, led by original cast members Drew Gehling, Stephanie Torns and Molly Hager. A flyer containing the lyrics was given to all attendees in their Playbill, entitled ‘Sing along with us after the show to celebrate our 100th performance #Waitress1000’.

The full demo version of the song was released as the accompaniment to the final end credits of the Waitress the Musical movie.

Lyrics

17 December 2017 Curtain Call

Down at the diner, aah!

So many ways to slice a piece of this life
But most of the time it’s in the quarter life crisis
What’s on your plate at any given time
Can change with the specials and a jukebox dime

Down at the diner
Start to feel a little lighter
Yeah, down at the diner
Look around and feel better
We’re all in this together

So many days to endure in a row
It’s the little things that keep us afloat
Thank God for the oasis, the people and places
That save us and serve as a reminder

That’s why we come to the diner
Down at the diner, aah!
That’s why we come to the diner
Down at the diner, aah!
That’s why we come to the diner, aah!

12 March 2018 Curtain Call

Every day
Waking up
You take it with you
Share your light
With the rest of us
We’re all just doing the best we can
With how it goes
This small town is all we know

It’s the heartbeat
The center
The lifeline
You enter

You’re the heartbeat
The center
The lifeline
You enter

You’re the heartbeat (the heartbeat)
The center (the center)
The lifeline (the lifeline)
You enter (you enter)

You’re the heartbeat (the heartbeat)
The center (the center)
The lifeline (the lifeline)
You enter (you enter)

You’re the heartbeat (the heartbeat)
The center (the center)
The lifeline (the lifeline)
You enter (you enter)
Down at the diner, ahh!

#Waitress1000

Down at the diner, aah!

Demo Version (End Credits of Waitress the Musical Movie)

Down at the diner, aah!

So many ways to slice a piece of this life
But most of the time it’s in the quarter life crisis
What’s on your plate at any given time
Can change with the specials and a jukebox dime

Down at the diner
Start to feel a little lighter
Yeah, down at the diner
Look around and feel better
We’re all in this together

I wouldn’t call this place a happy end
But I’ve been round the block and just came back again
Ain’t seen the world yet but I know this much
Might as well call home wherever my ass ends up

Down at the diner
Don’t need to tell them why I’m here
They know me at the diner
And in every single bite is a little bit of life

So many days to endure in a row
It’s the little things that keep us afloat
Thank God for the oasis, the people and places
That save us and serve as reminder

That’s why we come to the diner
Down at the diner, aah!

Ordered up is how I like my days to find me
Everything here has its place and timing
I never been someone who fits right in
But I found myself organising condiments

Down at the diner
I’m exponentially wiser
Yeah, down at the diner
Whatever you are, there’s room at the bar

Every day
Begin again
Take a seat and settle in
With the rest of us

We’re all just trying to get by
When it gets hard
This small town is who we are

It’s the heartbeat
The center
The lifeline
You enter

It’s the heartbeat (it’s the heartbeat)
The center (the centre)
The lifeline (the lifeline)
You enter (you enter)

It’s the heartbeat (it’s the heartbeat)
(Every day)
The center (the center)
(What you got)
The lifeline (the lifeline)
(Bring it with you)
You enter (you enter)
(Share your love)

It’s the heartbeat (it’s the heartbeat)
(With the rest of us)
The center (the centre)
The lifeline (the lifeline)
You enter (you enter)
(We’re all just)

Down at the diner, aah!