Songs for Alison

Verse 1

Empty chairs up on the roof Waiting for the night to start Gravel humming under lights Nothing moves till you're the spark

Pre-chorus

We been holding this whole circle Saving you the seat up front Count it down, here comes the moment

Chorus

Alison, the night is yours Every chair was saved for one Come sit down and feel the love Alison, you are the sun

Verse 2

Every face turned toward your chair Voices rising, warm and loud Something in this rooftop air Says you're loved beyond the crowd

Bridge

No candle burns as bright as you No song says it better than we do Circle closing, love comes through Happy birthday, straight from the crew

Chorus

Alison, the night is yours Every chair was saved for one Come sit down and feel the love Alison, you are the sun

Outro

Chairs will empty, lights will fade But you're the warmth that this night made

Verse 1

Found an old box in the garage Dust on the tape, dim and undone Behind the drums, forgotten treasure But nothing's forgotten when it's you, Alison

Chorus

Alison, Alison, light of the room Every year you outshine the sun Something in you chases off the gloom We're all so glad your life's begun

Verse 2

You turn a dim room into daylight Just by walking through with your grin Every corner brighter when you're near it Every quiet party comes alive when you step in

Pre-chorus

So let the candles catch and rise Let every voice here join as one We've waited all year for this night

Chorus

Alison, Alison, light of the room Every year you outshine the sun Something in you chases off the gloom We're all so glad your life's begun

Bridge

Stacked up boxes, years gone by Every one of them holds you close We'd keep them all just to say thank you For being the one we love the most

Chorus

Alison, Alison, light of the room Every year you outshine the sun Something in you chases off the gloom We're all so glad your life's begun

Outro

Somewhere there's a box still waiting Full of years as good as this one

Verse 1

A crate by the mat this morning Nobody gave any warning But that is how you arrive Quiet, and keeping us alive

Chorus

Alison, Alison, light of this room Every candle we lit for you bloomed You are the one that we all count on Happy birthday, dear Alison

Verse 2

You leave things where we need them Never asking us to plead them Small steps, concrete and grey But you brighten every single day

Pre-chorus

So let the whole street hear it now Let every voice join in somehow Because tonight we shout it loud

Chorus

Alison, Alison, light of this room Every candle we lit for you bloomed You are the one that we all count on Happy birthday, dear Alison

Bridge

No fuss, no fanfare at the door Just you, giving a little more That crate says more than words could say You show up, come what may

Chorus

Alison, Alison, light of this room Every candle we lit for you bloomed You are the one that we all count on Happy birthday, dear Alison

Outro

The crate is empty, the mat still there But you filled up this whole year

Verse 1

You left the mug half full again Steam giving up against the glass I watch the water find its way And think how fast the years have passed

Pre-chorus

You never ask me why I stare You just keep talking, unaware That I'm still learning how to love you

Chorus

Alison, the kettle's always on You make the ordinary feel like one Nothing here has ever felt undone Alison, since you, since you, my Alison

Verse 2

You wipe the window with your sleeve Just to see the garden clearer I don't need the view at all When you're the one who's nearer

Bridge

Some loves shout and some loves sigh Ours just settles, low and true I've stopped waiting for a reason I just know I chose you

Chorus

Alison, the kettle's always on You make the ordinary feel like one Nothing here has ever felt undone Alison, since you, since you, my Alison

Outro

The glass has cleared, the morning's plain And you're still here, still worth the same

Verse 1

Rain comes down and finds us out You pull me close without a doubt Sleeves are touching, soft and slow That's the moment I can't live without

Chorus

Alison, you hold the night together Every storm feels light as a feather Nothing else I'd rather be doing Alison, you're mine in this weather

Verse 2

You laugh when thunder shakes the sky I forget to wonder why Sleeves keep brushing, hands stay near Under black, we're warm and dry

Pre-chorus

Something in the way you lean Says more than words have ever meant I feel this pulling me back in

Chorus

Alison, you hold the night together Every storm feels light as a feather Nothing else I'd rather be doing Alison, you're mine in this weather

Bridge

One umbrella, barely wide enough But you don't move, you don't shrug off Every drop that finds its way through Still can't touch what we have got

Chorus

Alison, you hold the night together Every storm feels light as a feather Nothing else I'd rather be doing Alison, you're mine in this weather

Outro

Long after rain has had its say Our sleeves remember where they lay

Verse 1

A wheel catches near the tomatoes Nothing special, just a Tuesday sound But I look up and there you are And something in me settles down

Pre-chorus

I wasn't looking for a thing Wasn't asking to be moved But here you come again

Chorus

Alison, you steady me Right there in the everyday Some folks need the fireworks You just need to stay

Verse 2

We argue over which brand's better You always win, I let you think Thirty seconds in a market aisle Mean more than any drink

Chorus

Alison, you steady me Right there in the everyday Some folks need the fireworks You just need to stay

Bridge

I've had louder loves than this Ones that burned and blew away This is quieter, this is true This is the one that's here to stay

Chorus

Alison, you steady me Right there in the everyday Some folks need the fireworks You just need to stay

Outro

Some wheel will catch on some floor again And I'll still think of you

Verse 1

A yellow beam slides slowly across the ceiling tonight curtains breathe it in and let it go soft and slight nothing out there means you any harm at all the dark is only a blanket, wide and small

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes now, let the quiet hold what it can every small sound settling into a gentler plan the night is leaning down to learn your name

Chorus

Alison, the light is moving soft and slow above you Alison, there's nothing in this dark that doesn't love you rest inside the hush that's wrapping you in warm and one sleep now, Alison, the whole wide night has just begun

Verse 2

Somewhere past the window cars are drifting home to rest every beam that passes seems to check that you're still blessed the walls remember every song that's ever calmed your head so let them hum you gently, gently, into bed

Chorus

Alison, the light is moving soft and slow above you Alison, there's nothing in this dark that doesn't love you rest inside the hush that's wrapping you in warm and one sleep now, Alison, the whole wide night has just begun

Bridge

Nobody is far while this small room is standing still every shadow bends around you, gentle as it will you are held here tighter than the dark could ever try

Chorus

Alison, the light is moving soft and slow above you Alison, there's nothing in this dark that doesn't love you rest inside the hush that's wrapping you in warm and one sleep now, Alison, the whole wide night has just begun

Outro

The last light slips across the ceiling, softer than before sleep now, Alison, there's nothing waiting at the door

Verse 1

The white curtain lifts and settles by the small metal rail Like a breath the whole room takes and lets go without fail Nothing here will ever hurry, nothing here will ever run Close your eyes and drift beside it, let the quiet come

Pre-chorus

Somewhere past the window the whole wide dark is turning Slow and low the house breathes with you, softly burning Down into a hush where all the wanting comes undone

Chorus

Alison, the night is kind and folds around you like a song Nothing out there means you harm, nothing here has ever gone wrong You are held here closer than the curtain to the rail Alison, I'll stay till morning, however long

Verse 2

Somewhere a small rail holds the muslin like a hand holds on Watch it drift and never worry, it will not be gone Every little sway is gentle, nothing sharp, nothing loud You are wrapped in something softer than any passing cloud

Pre-chorus

Somewhere past the window the whole wide dark is turning Slow and low the house breathes with you, softly burning Down into a hush where all the wanting comes undone

Chorus

Alison, the night is kind and folds around you like a song Nothing out there means you harm, nothing here has ever gone wrong You are held here closer than the curtain to the rail Alison, I'll stay till morning, however long

Bridge

Let the small room turn to nothing but your breathing and my own However far the dark goes, you are never once alone

Chorus

Alison, the night is kind and folds around you like a song Nothing out there means you harm, nothing here has ever gone wrong You are held here closer than the curtain to the rail Alison, I'll stay till morning, however long

Outro

The curtain settles still now by the small and quiet rail Sleep on, Alison, I'm watching, and I will not fail

Verse 1

A small orange dial is glowing soft on the wood tonight Circling round in a hush of amber, gentle and slow You are curled where the warmth is pooling, wrapped in that light There is nowhere as safe as this small and quiet glow

Pre-chorus

Let the hum of the house grow softer, let your eyes fall closed Every worry can wait till morning, folded away for now The dark is only a blanket, gathering close

Chorus

Alison, the light is low and the night has just begun Nothing here can touch you, nothing needs to be undone Sleep is coming gentle, Alison, like a rising sun Rest inside the quiet now, you precious, steady one

Verse 2

The dial keeps its circle turning slow above the grain Warm as embers settling deep inside an old, kind fire You are held here safer than a name could ever explain Sleep is just the hush that follows all your heart's desire

Chorus

Alison, the light is low and the night has just begun Nothing here can touch you, nothing needs to be undone Sleep is coming gentle, Alison, like a rising sun Rest inside the quiet now, you precious, steady one

Bridge

Somewhere past the window the whole wide world is still Nothing in the shadows means you any harm at all Every breath you're taking is a small and steady thrill Sleep will come to carry you and catch you if you fall

Chorus

Alison, the light is low and the night has just begun Nothing here can touch you, nothing needs to be undone Sleep is coming gentle, Alison, like a rising sun Rest inside the quiet now, you precious, steady one

Outro

The dial dims to nothing as the room grows soft and grey Sleep now, little Alison, the warmth will always stay