Songs for Ann

Verse 1

Rain was tapping tin and wire Lunchboxes stacked up higher You still showed up smiling through it Nothing hard could ever undo it

Chorus

Ann, tonight we lift the fan up high Ann, we're shouting to the sky You began this whole wide plan Happy birthday, wonder Ann

Verse 2

Fences hum when storms roll near You turn static into cheer Every drop that hits the ground Sounds like joy when you're around

Pre-chorus

You carry warmth in every hand You make the hardest days feel grand So light the cake up, here we stand

Chorus

Ann, tonight we lift the fan up high Ann, we're shouting to the sky You began this whole wide plan Happy birthday, wonder Ann

Bridge

No storm could ever dim your light You turned the grey to gold tonight We're dancing now because you're here That's the reason for the cheer

Chorus

Ann, tonight we lift the fan up high Ann, we're shouting to the sky You began this whole wide plan Happy birthday, wonder Ann

Outro

Rain still taps on wire and tin This is where the joy begins

Verse 1

Watch the water turn to foam Chrome is catching all the light Something in you found a home You make the dullest hour bright

Pre-chorus

Feel that rhythm start to climb Every gear is turning your way Hold on tight, it's your time

Chorus

Ann, you spin the whole room round Nobody moves like you can Lift the roof without a sound Here's to you tonight, Ann

Verse 2

You turn heads without a plan Glass gets smudged but you stay clear Every year since you began You made the room feel warmer here

Bridge

Let the drums keep rolling on Nothing's slowing you tonight Blur the water, chase the sun You were built to spin in light

Chorus

Ann, you spin the whole room round Nobody moves like you can Lift the roof without a sound Here's to you tonight, Ann

Outro

Let the foam and chrome shine on You're the reason we all sang

Verse 1

Dust is turning gold in the light Old shears catching sun just right Nobody else makes rust look this way You make the plainest hour feel bright

Pre-chorus

Every year you just keep shining through Every little thing turns warmer near you So light the candles, here's what's true

Chorus

Happy birthday, Ann, you steady flame Nothing about you stays the same We keep coming back for more You're the best part of the plan

Verse 2

You find the good in a rusty old tool Turn a Tuesday into something beautiful Time moves different when you're around Slower, kinder, nothing cruel

Chorus

Happy birthday, Ann, you steady flame Nothing about you stays the same We keep coming back for more You're the best part of the plan

Bridge

However far the years may run However this old world may change You're still the warmest thing under the sun You're still worth every candle we light

Chorus

Happy birthday, Ann, you steady flame Nothing about you stays the same We keep coming back for more You're the best part of the plan

Outro

Dust still dances where you've been That's the kind of light you bring

Verse 1

Salt frosts the rail beneath my hand You steady me against the swell We watch the water lose the land And still I know this ends up well

Pre-chorus

Every engine hums a low goodbye But you keep facing into it Nothing here has made me want to fly

Chorus

Ann, you're the calm the whole deck needs Salt in the air, and you're my plan Wherever this old engine leads I'd cross it twice for you, Ann

Verse 2

You lean in closer when the spray comes hard Laughing like the cold's a joke we share Nothing about you feels like a guard You just stay, and that is rare

Bridge

No map could hold what keeps me here It isn't distance, isn't chance It's how you turn and know no fear Steady as the ship's advance

Chorus

Ann, you're the calm the whole deck needs Salt in the air, and you're my plan Wherever this old engine leads I'd cross it twice for you, Ann

Outro

The rail still holds the salt and spray You're the one thing steady on this run

Verse 1

You hand me the lime like it's nothing Your fingers brush mine, barely touching The counter is sticky, the night's half gone But something in me clicks into on

Pre-chorus

I've watched you move through crowded rooms I know your laugh before it blooms Something's building, and I won't hold back

Chorus

Ann, you're the reason I stayed past two Nobody else does what you do I fell slow, the way good things can Steady and sure, that's how it began, Ann

Verse 2

You wipe the counter, catch my eye Say something dry that makes me sigh It isn't much, this little scene But it's the realest thing I've seen

Pre-chorus

I've watched you move through crowded rooms I know your laugh before it blooms Something's building, and I won't hold back

Chorus

Ann, you're the reason I stayed past two Nobody else does what you do I fell slow, the way good things can Steady and sure, that's how it began, Ann

Bridge

Doesn't matter if it's new or old However this love story gets told You're the one I keep coming back to find

Chorus

Ann, you're the reason I stayed past two Nobody else does what you do I fell slow, the way good things can Steady and sure, that's how it began, Ann

Outro

Pass me the lime one more time I'll take this slow, and call it mine

Verse 1

Wet leaves stuck where your boots pressed down Frozen grass still holds the mark you made I walk that path when you're not near You left your print here like a plan

Pre-chorus

I never needed the whole story Just the shape of you walking ahead Something in me keeps following that

Chorus

Ann, you steady me without trying There's no version of this without Ann Quiet as frost, sure as the season You're the one true thing since this began

Verse 2

Some mornings the ground is hard and still You move through it like it's nothing new I watch the way you don't look back Steady as anyone I've known

Pre-chorus

I never needed the whole story Just the shape of you walking ahead Something in me keeps following that

Chorus

Ann, you steady me without trying There's no version of this without Ann Quiet as frost, sure as the season You're the one true thing since this began

Bridge

No grand words, just this small proof Your steps still calling me to follow Whatever comes, however long the span I'll keep choosing you, plain as I can

Chorus

Ann, you steady me without trying There's no version of this without Ann Quiet as frost, sure as the season You're the one true thing since this began

Outro

The grass will thaw, the prints will fade I'm still walking where you led

Verse 1

Fat flakes are sticking soft against the window pane tonight the floorboards give their quiet little creaks and settle right and nothing in this house would ever dream of causing harm so let the falling snow be the last thing that you see

Pre-chorus

The whole wide world has slowed its breathing down to match your own the dark outside is gentle and it means you no alarm so rest against the warmth that only holds you close and calm

Chorus

Ann, the night is soft and you are safe within my span sleep now, little Ann, beneath the hush of my own plan nothing here will wake you, nothing here will ever harm for as long as I am near you, dear one, sleep, my Ann

Verse 2

The shadows on the ceiling only rock you like a boat somewhere far the wind is singing you a hum so low you are wrapped in every kindness I could ever hope to show and I will stay right here to watch the whole night through

Chorus

Ann, the night is soft and you are safe within my span sleep now, little Ann, beneath the hush of my own plan nothing here will wake you, nothing here will ever harm for as long as I am near you, dear one, sleep, my Ann

Bridge

Let the glass go white and quiet while you drift away from me hold this warmth inside you like a promise you began

Chorus

Ann, the night is soft and you are safe within my span sleep now, little Ann, beneath the hush of my own plan nothing here will wake you, nothing here will ever harm for as long as I am near you, dear one, sleep, my Ann

Outro

Let the flakes keep falling soft against the glass till dawn you are held and you are loved, and morning comes along

Verse 1

Soot comes tumbling soft down the old red brick flue tonight and somewhere above us the floorboards creak and settle too every small sound in this house is only the house breathing slow and none of it, none of it, ever comes looking for you

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes now, let the whole house hush around you nothing tonight is going to ask you to be brave just the dark going soft as it folds its wings above you

Chorus

Ann, the night has nowhere it needs you to be you can rest here as long as you want to stay every corner of this dark belongs to Ann tonight and I will keep the morning waiting till you wake

Verse 2

Somewhere a chimney sighs and lets its small ash fall like the day letting go of everything it carried you don't have to hold onto anything at all just the warm and the quiet, and how well you are guarded

Bridge

Let the last light go out slow, there's no rush in it the house will still be standing when the morning comes

Chorus

Ann, the night has nowhere it needs you to be you can rest here as long as you want to stay every corner of this dark belongs to Ann tonight and I will keep the morning waiting till you wake

Outro

Somewhere the soot has settled soft along the old flue and you are settling too, warm and safe and through

Verse 1

Lamplight is catching the down in your blanket tonight Turning the feathers to gold in the low honest light You are the calm at the end of the day's little span Curled up so soft, little breathing thing, quietly Ann

Pre-chorus

The house settles low and the wind lets its worry go Shadows are gentle, they move slow and soft and slow Close now your eyes while the warmth starts to grow

Chorus

Ann, you are held here as safe as a heart can be Nothing will trouble this quiet you're wrapped in, Ann, you'll see Sleep is a river and you are the boat that it holds Ann, you are loved more than any small song has told

Verse 2

Somewhere the night wraps its arms round the birds in the eaves Softer than anything, quieter than falling leaves You are the warmest thing under this low golden light Small steady heartbeat that carries us through the night

Bridge

Nothing can reach you where sleep likes to keep you Nothing will wake you, this hour belongs to you

Chorus

Ann, you are held here as safe as a heart can be Nothing will trouble this quiet you're wrapped in, Ann, you'll see Sleep is a river and you are the boat that it holds Ann, you are loved more than any small song has told

Outro

Let the gold light fade soft as feathers pressed still and slow Sleep now, little Ann, everything gentle, everything low