Lane Rope

Lane Rope are a line of lifeguards strung across the biggest pool in the poolrooms, real pools that nobody swims in, each holding the float line from the one before, keeping the lanes apart in case. They croon big-band swing to the place, with endless reverb off the tile: The Deep End (Infinity Metres), Take Soup (It’s Cold Up There), a duet with the Urn up in the canteen, and Climb Out at the Shallow End.

A place deserves a love song even if nobody comes, and nobody comes. They hold things together, and keep everyone in their lane, which nobody asked them to. Their band is the orchestra of the pit, heard and never seen. They want the orchestra, and so do Beginners Please. The night staff get their post in the poolrooms and never stay for a song. Like everything else here, they were made by a machine.