Songs for Barnaby

Verse 1

Yellow boots on grey old snow Melting fast by the corner shop door Every step you take somewhere Turns the dull street into something rare

Chorus

Barnaby, light up the room again Nobody shines quite like you, my friend Barnaby, we're glad that you're here Grab a glass and let's give a cheer

Verse 2

Slush and grey can't touch your glow You warm up every place you go Footprints fading, but you remain The one bright spark through wind and rain

Pre-chorus

Stand up now, let's raise it high Another year has wandered by So sing it loud before it flies

Chorus

Barnaby, light up the room again Nobody shines quite like you, my friend Barnaby, we're glad that you're here Grab a glass and let's give a cheer

Bridge

Like anybody, you have your days But you're the one who lights the greys Here's to the warmth that you bring near

Chorus

Barnaby, light up the room again Nobody shines quite like you, my friend Barnaby, we're glad that you're here Grab a glass and let's give a cheer

Outro

Long past the slush, your mark stays bright Yellow footprints leading into light

Verse 1

Six cardboard chairs pulled in a ring Under a light that hums and flickers Nobody cares how the room looks When you walk in, the whole thing quickers

Chorus

Barnaby, the candles catch your name Barnaby, the whole room feels it too Every plain chair leans in the same Just to be near the good in you

Verse 2

We didn't plan for anything fancy Just paper cups and one loud song But look how quick this corner filled up Once we knew you'd be along

Pre-chorus

So let the light keep humming on Let every borrowed chair hold tight We're only waiting for the count

Chorus

Barnaby, the candles catch your name Barnaby, the whole room feels it too Every plain chair leans in the same Just to be near the good in you

Bridge

However far you've had to come However tired the year has been This room was built for one arrival And it was always you we meant

Chorus

Barnaby, the candles catch your name Barnaby, the whole room feels it too Every plain chair leans in the same Just to be near the good in you

Outro

Turn off the humming light above us We'll still be laughing in the dark

Verse 1

Matches spilled across the table Stout running wild and free Nobody moved to stop it Too busy watching you, Barnaby

Chorus

Barnaby, you light the whole room up Nobody burns as bright as you Barnaby, we're raising every glass tonight There's no crowd that wouldn't want you

Verse 2

You never needed the flame lit Sparks just follow where you go Trouble spilled and you just laughed it off That's a thing that we all know

Pre-chorus

Count the candles, count the years Count the mess we love you for We're not waiting one more second

Chorus

Barnaby, you light the whole room up Nobody burns as bright as you Barnaby, we're raising every glass tonight There's no crowd that wouldn't want you

Bridge

Strike it now, don't let it wait Every year you're worth the mess Here's to you, however you land Best in the room, we all confess

Chorus

Barnaby, you light the whole room up Nobody burns as bright as you Barnaby, we're raising every glass tonight There's no crowd that wouldn't want you

Outro

Let the stout run, let it spill You're the spark we're keeping still

Verse 1

Frozen pizzas slide into the basket Nothing special, just the two of us You laugh at something in the wire rack And I fall again, no need to discuss

Pre-chorus

Nobody else would notice this The way you make the ordinary hum Something's building I can't quite dismiss

Chorus

Barnaby, you steady me like gravity You turn a shop run into a symphony Nothing here is any kind of tragedy When you're the one still walking next to me

Verse 2

The lights are ugly, honest, harsh and white You don't care, you're humming something sweet I could stand here with you half the night Just watching how you move between the aisles neat

Pre-chorus

Nobody else would notice this The way you make the ordinary hum Something's building I can't quite dismiss

Chorus

Barnaby, you steady me like gravity You turn a shop run into a symphony Nothing here is any kind of tragedy When you're the one still walking next to me

Bridge

I don't need candlelight or canopy I just need you, however you show up No grand plans, no fancy tapestry Just you here, filling up my cup

Chorus

Barnaby, you steady me like gravity You turn a shop run into a symphony Nothing here is any kind of tragedy When you're the one still walking next to me

Outro

Someday we'll forget the pizza, the light But I'll remember loving you tonight

Verse 1

The can still sits beside the boot Rusted through but holding root Nobody moved it after you left it there You keep things nobody would salute

Pre-chorus

I never asked you why you stayed Never needed proof or trade Just watched you build a life I lean into

Chorus

Barnaby, you never made me chase Steady as a well worn place No one holds a room like you can be Barnaby, I know your face

Verse 2

You water what most people skip Patient with a stubborn grip Even bent old leather earns your care Nothing that you love, you'd ever quit

Chorus

Barnaby, you never made me chase Steady as a well worn place No one holds a room like you can be Barnaby, I know your face

Bridge

Some loves arrive with thunder, loud and quick Ours just kept on growing, steady, thick You never needed noise to be believed

Chorus

Barnaby, you never made me chase Steady as a well worn place No one holds a room like you can be Barnaby, I know your face

Outro

The can still waits beside the door I'll keep choosing you, and nothing more

Verse 1

A bottle rolls across the table cracked plastic, catching light I watch it drift instead of you because looking straight might give me away

Pre-chorus

Nothing on this table matters nothing here is rare but I keep noticing you

Chorus

Barnaby, you make the small hours count you make the quiet stay some kind of ordinary miracle Barnaby, you talked my noise away

Verse 2

It stops against your hand, not mine like it knew where to go I never planned on loving you but here we are, and slow

Bridge

No one writes songs about a mustard bottle but I would write a hundred more of you every plain thing turns into a keepsake the second that it's near to you

Chorus

Barnaby, you make the small hours count you make the quiet stay some kind of ordinary miracle Barnaby, you talked my noise away

Outro

Let it roll right off the table I've already got what I was reaching for

Verse 1

Dark feathers brush the glass where the frost is climbing slow The window turns to gold against the cold night air You are the warmest thing that this whole house will know Wrapped up and held so close, without a single care

Pre-chorus

Outside the wind is turning, but it cannot reach this room Every worry of the day is folding into rest And nothing in the dark tonight can touch you

Chorus

Barnaby, the night is only you and me now Barnaby, there's nothing here to fear Every star has bent down low to see how Bright you shine while sleep is drawing near

Verse 2

The glass holds back the frost the way my arms hold you Soft as feathers falling slow through winter's quiet air Nothing in this house tonight will let the cold get through You are held, you are kept, you are always someone's care

Pre-chorus

Outside the wind is turning, but it cannot reach this room Every worry of the day is folding into rest And nothing in the dark tonight can touch you

Chorus

Barnaby, the night is only you and me now Barnaby, there's nothing here to fear Every star has bent down low to see how Bright you shine while sleep is drawing near

Bridge

Close your eyes, the frost will keep its watch till morning light You are loved in every hour, waking or asleep

Chorus

Barnaby, the night is only you and me now Barnaby, there's nothing here to fear Every star has bent down low to see how Bright you shine while sleep is drawing near

Outro

The window holds its gold against the frost and feathered dark And you are held the same way, safe until the morning starts

Verse 1

Soot comes tumbling softly down the old grey brick tonight Settling slow and gentle like the fading of the light You are curled up warmer than the embers ever were Safe inside this quiet room where nothing needs to stir

Pre-chorus

Outside the wind is humming low against the windowpane Every worry of the day is turning small again Close your eyes and let the hush come rolling gently in

Chorus

Barnaby, the fire is banked and all the sparks are still Sleep is falling like the soot along the windowsill Nobody could hold a name as softly as I hold you Barnaby, the whole dark house is dreaming of you too

Verse 2

The chimney keeps its secrets in a coat of feathered grey Holding all the warmth it gathered from the fading day You are held the very same way, quiet and complete Wrapped in something older than the beating of your heartbeat

Pre-chorus

Somewhere down the hallway a small clock is beating slow Time has folded up its hands and let the evening go Close your eyes and let the hush come rolling gently in

Chorus

Barnaby, the fire is banked and all the sparks are still Sleep is falling like the soot along the windowsill Nobody could hold a name as softly as I hold you Barnaby, the whole dark house is dreaming of you too

Bridge

Grey on grey, the ash lies down to rest No one ever loved so plainly, quietly blessed

Chorus

Barnaby, the fire is banked and all the sparks are still Sleep is falling like the soot along the windowsill Nobody could hold a name as softly as I hold you Barnaby, the whole dark house is dreaming of you too

Outro

The grate has gone cool and the soot has settled deep Barnaby, so have you, so easy now to sleep

Verse 1

Watch the small flame breathe so softly by your bed tonight Wax runs slow across the saucer, blue and still Yellow smoke goes drifting upward, thin and light You are held here safe and steady, always will

Pre-chorus

Every drop falls slower now, the room grows warm and low Shadows soften into corners, letting go Rest is coming closer, closer, sweet and slow

Chorus

Barnaby, the candle's melting into calm Sleep is folding round you like a gentle arm Barnaby, no harm can find you here You are loved beyond the reach of any fear

Verse 2

The wick burns low but never once forgets to hold its glow Smoke curls upward, soft and slow, then fades from view Nothing in this quiet room can hurt you now Every breath you take is safe, is warm, is true

Chorus

Barnaby, the candle's melting into calm Sleep is folding round you like a gentle arm Barnaby, no harm can find you here You are loved beyond the reach of any fear

Bridge

Wax will pool and cool by morning light But you are held past dark, past day, past time

Chorus

Barnaby, the candle's melting into calm Sleep is folding round you like a gentle arm Barnaby, no harm can find you here You are loved beyond the reach of any fear

Outro

The smoke has settled soft and low above the blue Sleep now, Barnaby, this love stays here with you