Songs for Alys

Verse 1

Three pints stand up on the table Sticky wood beneath our hands One match left to strike the moment You're the reason here we stand

Chorus

Alys, light the room up like a palace Raise a glass and raise it twice Nobody here could call you callous You're the warmest thing in our lives

Verse 2

Empty glasses, one more round then Somebody grabs the box to strike Every year we say the same thing Nobody quite like you in sight

Pre-chorus

Something in this table's laughter Something in the way we grin Feels like it's been building to this

Chorus

Alys, light the room up like a palace Raise a glass and raise it twice Nobody here could call you callous You're the warmest thing in our lives

Bridge

No malice ever crossed your mind Just open hands and open doors We'd cross a room to find you, Alys You're the one that we show up for

Chorus

Alys, light the room up like a palace Raise a glass and raise it twice Nobody here could call you callous You're the warmest thing in our lives

Outro

Three glasses empty on the table Still we're glad we struck that light

Verse 1

Crate of plums beside the scale Brass arm tipping, telling its tale Nobody needs to measure you No number could ever fit the scale

Chorus

Alys, Alys, light up the room Every year you're back too soon Nothing weighs the same as you Alys, we're glad you bloomed

Verse 2

Stack the fruit up, watch it lean Sweetest thing that we have seen But put you next to all of it You outshine the whole routine

Pre-chorus

So let the candles catch and climb Let somebody pour the wine We've been waiting all this time for

Chorus

Alys, Alys, light up the room Every year you're back too soon Nothing weighs the same as you Alys, we're glad you bloomed

Bridge

No scale was built to hold your worth No crate could carry all your worth We just keep on counting anyway Glad we get another year on earth

Chorus

Alys, Alys, light up the room Every year you're back too soon Nothing weighs the same as you Alys, we're glad you bloomed

Outro

Let the plums roll where they may We already found our gold today

Verse 1

Chalk lines fading on the grass Iron goalpost standing tall Every year that games has passed You're the one I cheer for, Alys

Pre-chorus

You never needed to be told How much you're worth to us So let the whole room hold

Chorus

Alys, light the candles high Never once been callous You're the reason we all try Happy birthday, Alys

Verse 2

Damp grass under morning feet You'd run until the whistle blew Nothing ever felt complete Until the room was full of you

Bridge

No palace built could match your name No crown could shine as true We're not here for cake or fame We're only here for you

Chorus

Alys, light the candles high Never once been callous You're the reason we all try Happy birthday, Alys

Outro

Chalk will fade back into rain But you, you still remain

Verse 1

Dust lifts from the heavy page Under a green and steady light I watch it settle, slow and strange And think of you, still, every night

Chorus

Alys, you are the calm I chose Not gold, not glass, just true and near No malice in you, only grace Alys, it's you I want right here

Verse 2

Some nights the words won't hold their shape I lose my place, I lose the thread But you stay steady on the page Of every quiet thing I've said

Pre-chorus

I'm not one for grand old speeches Or promises dressed up to shine But something in this hush is reaching

Chorus

Alys, you are the calm I chose Not gold, not glass, just true and near No malice in you, only grace Alys, it's you I want right here

Bridge

No palace, just this room, this light No chalice raised, just you and me Whatever page we're standing on Is where I've always meant to be

Chorus

Alys, you are the calm I chose Not gold, not glass, just true and near No malice in you, only grace Alys, it's you I want right here

Outro

Let the dust rise where it will You're the light still burning green

Verse 1

I left my boots beside your door tracks gone hard, the field gone still you pulled me in before I froze said stay here, I mean it still

Pre-chorus

I've stood in colder rooms than this but never felt the warmth arrive the way it does when you're this close

Chorus

Alys, you're the reason I stay even when the light gives way two boots resting, side by side that's you and me, that's how we ride

Verse 2

You warm your hands against my coat the frost outside won't touch us here I've walked through harder ground than this but never once with so much care

Pre-chorus

I've stood in colder rooms than this but never felt the warmth arrive the way it does when you're this close

Chorus

Alys, you're the reason I stay even when the light gives way two boots resting, side by side that's you and me, that's how we ride

Bridge

No palace built could hold this steady no chalice raised could match this true just quiet ground and quiet hands and me still choosing you

Chorus

Alys, you're the reason I stay even when the light gives way two boots resting, side by side that's you and me, that's how we ride

Outro

The tracks will thaw, the field will turn but I'll still be right here with you

Verse 1

Found a pebble washed up smooth Sitting by an old rusted chain Everything else got carried off Still I kept it just for you

Chorus

Alys, you're the one that stayed Not some feeling built to fade I've seen the tide take everything Alys, you're the weight that stayed

Verse 2

Storms roll through and take their toll Rust don't mean a thing is done You could rest here in the wreckage Nothing tore you loose from me

Pre-chorus

I don't need the shine to last I just need you standing here So when the water comes again

Chorus

Alys, you're the one that stayed Not some feeling built to fade I've seen the tide take everything Alys, you're the weight that stayed

Bridge

Let the current pull what it wants I'm not letting go of this

Chorus

Alys, you're the one that stayed Not some feeling built to fade I've seen the tide take everything Alys, you're the weight that stayed

Outro

Still that pebble sits right there Still you're here, and so am I

Verse 1

A white beam turns slowly across the old cracked tile above you It circles like it's guarding you from anything unkind Nothing in this room tonight would ever want to trouble you You are so completely loved, you are so hard to find

Pre-chorus

Let your small hands soften now and let your breathing slow The house is holding still for you, the dark is warm and kind Close your eyes and let the quiet gently carry you and go

Chorus

Sleep now, Alys, in the hush of this small palace Nothing here can touch you, nothing means you harm There's no room tonight for any kind of malice Only you, my Alys, wrapped up safe and warm

Verse 2

The night outside is patient and it never means to hurry You've got till morning wrapped around you like a gentle arm No need to fight the sleep that's coming, no need ever to worry Whatever waits tomorrow cannot touch you, cannot harm

Bridge

Somewhere the stars are turning too, slow as that light above Watching over someone small who's held in so much love

Chorus

Sleep now, Alys, in the hush of this small palace Nothing here can touch you, nothing means you harm There's no room tonight for any kind of malice Only you, my Alys, wrapped up safe and warm

Outro

The beam keeps turning gently on that same old cracked ceiling Sleep now, you are certain, you are wanted, you are held

Verse 1

A strip of yellow light lies across the worn old rug and somewhere past your door the house breathes low and slow that thin gold line will keep its watch till morning holding the dark back gently, keeping it from you

Chorus

Alys, the night has folded soft around you now every corner of this room is kept just for your rest Alys, nothing here will come to trouble you tonight you are the warmest thing this house has ever blessed

Verse 2

The rug has worn thin where small feet love to wander but you are wrapped up safe, still and warm in bed that same old light will lie there when you're waking the same soft gold to greet your sleepy head

Pre-chorus

Let your breathing find the hush that fills the hallway let the small light by the door be all you need and drift now toward the calm that's always waiting

Chorus

Alys, the night has folded soft around you now every corner of this room is kept just for your rest Alys, nothing here will come to trouble you tonight you are the warmest thing this house has ever blessed

Bridge

No shadow here would dare to come too near you you are held closer than you'll ever know sleep now, and let the whole wide dark grow gentle

Chorus

Alys, the night has folded soft around you now every corner of this room is kept just for your rest Alys, nothing here will come to trouble you tonight you are the warmest thing this house has ever blessed

Outro

The light beneath the door will burn on softly watching over you until the morning comes

Verse 1

Somewhere down the hallway a steady clock is swinging low Marking every minute with a calm and patient flow You are held much closer than that pendulum in its case Nothing in the whole wide house could ever take your place

Pre-chorus

Let the ticking carry you where all your worries land Every little tremor smoothed by one unhurried hand Close your eyes and drift now, sleep is closer than you think

Chorus

Alys, the dark is only quiet wearing down its edge Nothing here will hurt you, nothing past this window ledge Alys, you are steady as that swinging in the hall Loved before you knew it, loved through every fall

Verse 2

Somewhere in the stillness something old keeps beating on Patient as a heartbeat that has never once been gone You will always matter more than any hour it keeps Wrapped in something gentler while the whole house sleeps

Chorus

Alys, the dark is only quiet wearing down its edge Nothing here will hurt you, nothing past this window ledge Alys, you are steady as that swinging in the hall Loved before you knew it, loved through every fall

Bridge

Back and forth, back and forth, so soft it barely seems to move Somebody near you always has a reason to approve Rest inside the rhythm, let the night go on and on

Chorus

Alys, the dark is only quiet wearing down its edge Nothing here will hurt you, nothing past this window ledge Alys, you are steady as that swinging in the hall Loved before you knew it, loved through every fall

Outro

Somewhere down the hallway that old clock is swinging still Carry on its rhythm to wherever dreams may spill