Songs for Ayla

Verse 1

Boxes stacked up to the ceiling flour dust on every string you walk in and change the feeling nobody else does that one thing

Pre-chorus

We been saving up the sweetest part waiting on you to walk through that door and now the whole room's ready to sing

Chorus

Ayla, we came here for you cut the string, let the whole thing through every year you make it better Ayla, only one like you

Verse 2

Every box was tied on purpose just to watch you pull it free you make ordinary feel like worship that's the gift, that's the honesty

Pre-chorus

We been saving up the sweetest part waiting on you to walk through that door and now the whole room's ready to sing

Chorus

Ayla, we came here for you cut the string, let the whole thing through every year you make it better Ayla, only one like you

Bridge

Not for the ribbon, not the bow it's you we're all gathered to know you're the reason this whole room is glowing

Chorus

Ayla, we came here for you cut the string, let the whole thing through every year you make it better Ayla, only one like you

Outro

Let every box stay open now you're the sweetest thing we found

Verse 1

Old shears resting on the bench Three empty pots, a garden's stench But nothing here has grown to waste You turn plain dirt to something graced

Pre-chorus

So raise your glass and stamp your feet We came tonight for you to greet The kind of joy that won't sit still

Chorus

Ayla, Ayla, here's to you A steady hand, a heart that's true Nobody fills a room like Ayla Come on and cheer, don't you delay, uh

Verse 2

You plant the seeds nobody sees You kneel down low and mind your knees Whatever's broken, you repair And somehow make it feel like care

Chorus

Ayla, Ayla, here's to you A steady hand, a heart that's true Nobody fills a room like Ayla Come on and cheer, don't you delay, uh

Bridge

Every year you're still the stayer Still the one who lifts the player Never one to fade or falter Steady as a garden's altar

Chorus

Ayla, Ayla, here's to you A steady hand, a heart that's true Nobody fills a room like Ayla Come on and cheer, don't you delay, uh

Outro

Those pots will fill, you'll see them grown Ayla, this whole house is your own

Verse 1

Boots left standing by the door Caked in garden, caked in gold You grew these stalks up past the fence Just like every year you're told

Pre-chorus

You never wait for perfect weather You just dig in, you just begin Something's building, something's rising

Chorus

Ayla, Ayla, look what you grew Pods hang heavy, green and true Nobody works a garden like you Ayla, happy birthday to you

Verse 2

Every year the same old boots Standing tall where the bean rows lean You keep planting, keep on trusting Something good in between

Pre-chorus

You never wait for perfect weather You just dig in, you just begin Something's building, something's rising

Chorus

Ayla, Ayla, look what you grew Pods hang heavy, green and true Nobody works a garden like you Ayla, happy birthday to you

Bridge

Here's to the hands that never stop Here's to the growing, here's to the stayer Whatever you plant, it comes up strong Nobody works a room like a player

Chorus

Ayla, Ayla, look what you grew Pods hang heavy, green and true Nobody works a garden like you Ayla, happy birthday to you

Outro

Boots still standing by the door We're glad you're here for one more

Verse 1

Two mugs gone cold on the books Neither one of us moved Ayla, I watched you instead Barely touched what I brewed

Pre-chorus

You talk with your hands when you're certain I lean in closer to hear Something is building between us

Chorus

Ayla, you steady my whole day There's no one I'd rather choose Stay here as long as you're able Ayla, I'm yours if you're a stayer too

Verse 2

The pages kept turning to us Not one line held my attention Ayla, your laugh crossed the room That was the only invention

Pre-chorus

You talk with your hands when you're certain I lean in closer to hear Something is building between us

Chorus

Ayla, you steady my whole day There's no one I'd rather choose Stay here as long as you're able Ayla, I'm yours if you're a stayer too

Bridge

I don't need the grand or the golden Just this and the warmth of your hand No promise could hold what I'm feeling No song says it better than plain

Chorus

Ayla, you steady my whole day There's no one I'd rather choose Stay here as long as you're able Ayla, I'm yours if you're a stayer too

Outro

Two mugs still sit on the books Both of them empty, both fine

Verse 1

Footprints by the pebbles fade slow warm sand keeping what we let go you turned back once to find me there that look still glows

Pre-chorus

Nothing here is loud or fast tide comes soft and holds what lasts something in me leans toward you

Chorus

Ayla, you're the reason I stay not some fire that burns away you're the calm I didn't plan for steady as the grey

Verse 2

Grey stones hold their place through weather you and I still fit together water smooths what used to cut nothing feels like never

Chorus

Ayla, you're the reason I stay not some fire that burns away you're the calm I didn't plan for steady as the grey

Bridge

Let the water come and take what it takes some things wash out, but this one stays you're the print that never quite disappears

Chorus

Ayla, you're the reason I stay not some fire that burns away you're the calm I didn't plan for steady as the grey

Outro

Sand forgets, but I remember every step that led me here

Verse 1

The evening train comes slow tonight Puddles catch that yellow light I stand here with my collar up Waiting on you is enough

Chorus

Ayla, you're the one I'm keeping Every station clock worth watching No one else has ever stayed Steady as you, Ayla, made

Verse 2

Concrete tracks all wet and shining Nothing here needs any timing You just walk up out the dark Steady hands and steady heart

Pre-chorus

I don't need the grand reveal Just this quiet, just this real Something in me starts to lift

Chorus

Ayla, you're the one I'm keeping Every station clock worth watching No one else has ever stayed Steady as you, Ayla, made

Bridge

Trains keep leaving, trains come back I stay right here upon this track Long as you keep coming through

Chorus

Ayla, you're the one I'm keeping Every station clock worth watching No one else has ever stayed Steady as you, Ayla, made

Outro

The lights go on reflecting still I'll wait here for you, and I will

Verse 1

Dark green leaves are rustling soft above your little bed tonight Every whisper in the branches learns to hold its breath for you Nothing out there in the shadows ever means you harm or fright The whole wide world goes quiet now to watch you sleeping through

Chorus

Ayla, close your eyes and let the evening carry you There is no safer harbour than the arms that hold you near Somewhere soft and warm is waiting, always waiting just for you Ayla, rest now, nothing in this whole night bring you fear

Verse 2

The wind is only rocking you, it never means to wake you Above your head the green is moving slow like gentle waves Nothing in the dark tonight has ever come to take you You are held here closer than the quiet evening behaves

Pre-chorus

Let your breathing slow to match the sway of leaves above Let the hush that's gathering around you settle soft and low Sleep is only stepping closer, wrapped in all this love

Chorus

Ayla, close your eyes and let the evening carry you There is no safer harbour than the arms that hold you near Somewhere soft and warm is waiting, always waiting just for you Ayla, rest now, nothing in this whole night bring you fear

Bridge

You are the reason the dark learns to be gentle Every quiet hour tonight was made to keep you warm

Chorus

Ayla, close your eyes and let the evening carry you There is no safer harbour than the arms that hold you near Somewhere soft and warm is waiting, always waiting just for you Ayla, rest now, nothing in this whole night bring you fear

Outro

Sleep now while the leaves keep rustling softly overhead The green will still be watching long after you're in bed

Verse 1

The blue kettle rests now, its long day is done Cooling on iron where the warmth used to run Everything settles when the steam drifts away So close your two eyes and rest like the day

Pre-chorus

Hush now, the house has gone soft in the dark Nothing to fear here, not a sound, not a spark Let the quiet carry you somewhere warm and slow

Chorus

Ayla, the whole house breathes so slow and low Nothing can reach you where you're going to go Sleep like a stayer who has nowhere to be Ayla, I'm here, and you are safe here with me

Verse 2

A small ring of heat still lingers on black stone Fading so gently, never leaving you alone You are the warmth that stays after the flame Held in this quiet that only knows your name

Bridge

No need to wake, no need to wander or roam Every soft corner of this night is your home

Chorus

Ayla, the whole house breathes so slow and low Nothing can reach you where you're going to go Sleep like a stayer who has nowhere to be Ayla, I'm here, and you are safe here with me

Outro

The kettle is cooling, its whistle long past Rest now, my Ayla, held gentle and safe

Verse 1

A small orange glow hums low on the table beside you Soft through the cloth like a breath held so near Nothing tonight is going to find you or startle you Sleep is already gathering close, my dear

Pre-chorus

The dark isn't dark when you're wrapped up this warm Every small sound is just the house settling in So let your eyes close before the very last yawn

Chorus

Ayla, the night has folded down soft around you Nothing will wake you, nothing will call you away You are the calm that this whole house was waiting for Ayla, you're held here till the light turns to day

Verse 2

Somewhere a clock ticks slow like it's rocking you gently Somewhere the glow keeps its quiet little spark You don't have to know why you're loved so completely Just close your eyes and let go of the dark

Chorus

Ayla, the night has folded down soft around you Nothing will wake you, nothing will call you away You are the calm that this whole house was waiting for Ayla, you're held here till the light turns to day

Bridge

Rest now, there's nowhere you need to be going No one to answer, no reason to stay Just drift where the small orange light keeps on glowing

Chorus

Ayla, the night has folded down soft around you Nothing will wake you, nothing will call you away You are the calm that this whole house was waiting for Ayla, you're held here till the light turns to day

Outro

The glow will keep watching long after you're dreaming So sleep, little one, everything here stays warm