Songs for Ben

Verse 1

Footprints by the old iron fence Melting soft in grey and thin But some marks never fade from view That's the kind you leave behind, Ben

Chorus

Happy birthday to you, Ben Light a candle, let it burn Every year you come back round again We keep loving you in return

Verse 2

Snow gives way but you remain Warm as summer, steady as ten Every winter comes and goes Your kind of warmth don't melt again

Pre-chorus

So raise your voice up for the one Who never lets the cold win Tonight we're calling out his name

Chorus

Happy birthday to you, Ben Light a candle, let it burn Every year you come back round again We keep loving you in return

Bridge

However far the roads may bend We know just where you've been You're the warmth we're walking toward

Chorus

Happy birthday to you, Ben Light a candle, let it burn Every year you come back round again We keep loving you in return

Outro

The slush will melt, the fence will stand But you're the warmth in every hand

Verse 1

Neon buzzing over the bar Glasses stacking, we've come this far Somebody's telling the same old joke Ben, you make the whole room laugh

Pre-chorus

Count the glasses, lose the count Let the night climb higher now Something's building, get ready to shout

Chorus

Ben, tonight we're shouting your name Nothing about you stays the same We keep pouring, you keep glowing Ben, you set this whole place aflame

Verse 2

Another round comes to the table Talk gets loud, the jukebox is able Somebody's climbing on a chair Ben, you keep this whole night stable

Pre-chorus

Count the glasses, lose the count Let the night climb higher now Something's building, get ready to shout

Chorus

Ben, tonight we're shouting your name Nothing about you stays the same We keep pouring, you keep glowing Ben, you set this whole place aflame

Bridge

Here's to the noise and the light Here's to you getting it right Every glass upon that shelf Says something good about yourself

Chorus

Ben, tonight we're shouting your name Nothing about you stays the same We keep pouring, you keep glowing Ben, you set this whole place aflame

Outro

Neon still buzzing, glasses still stacked Ben, we're glad you're exactly like that

Verse 1

Mud still marks the empty field Silence where the whistle sealed Floodlights hum against the grey But we came here for your day

Pre-chorus

Every year you show us how Something bright can start right now Feel it building, feel it swell

Chorus

Happy birthday, happy Ben Light the pitch up once again You're the reason we all cheer Best part of showing up all year

Verse 2

Goalposts standing straight and tall Waiting for another ball But tonight it's not the game You're the one who lit the flame

Chorus

Happy birthday, happy Ben Light the pitch up once again You're the reason we all cheer Best part of showing up all year

Bridge

No trophy says it half as true Every good thing traces back to you Ben, we're glad you're in this world

Chorus

Happy birthday, happy Ben Light the pitch up once again You're the reason we all cheer Best part of showing up all year

Outro

Long after the floodlights fade We're glad that you were made

Verse 1

Two spoons clink in the water Nothing fancy, just what we've got Suds on your hands, soft light through the window You hum like you've done it before

Pre-chorus

I never needed the big and loud I just needed you in the room Standing here, something starts to lift

Chorus

Ben, you make the plain days shine Steady heart, you're a friend of mine Some folks chase what they'll never keep I found you again and again, Ben

Verse 2

You dry the plates while I put them away Neither one of us in a rush Some nights we don't say a single word And that says more than enough

Bridge

Years could stack up like dishes do I'd wash them all just to sit with you No grand gesture, no perfect line Just this quiet, and it's fine

Chorus

Ben, you make the plain days shine Steady heart, you're a friend of mine Some folks chase what they'll never keep I found you again and again, Ben

Outro

Two spoons rest in the drying rack I'd choose this same small life again

Verse 1

I sat out where the leaves turned brown Waiting there again, and again I didn't mind the rain coming down I only wanted you back, Ben

Pre-chorus

The wood was cold beneath my hands But I kept still and made my plans To tell you what I've always known

Chorus

Ben, you are the warmest thing I know You steady me when I can't stand There's nowhere else I'd rather go Than sitting quiet, holding your hand

Verse 2

You laughed and shook the wet from your sleeve Called the bench a mess, a shame I said I never plan to leave Some things don't change, and stay the same

Pre-chorus

The wood was cold beneath my hands But I kept still and made my plans To tell you what I've always known

Chorus

Ben, you are the warmest thing I know You steady me when I can't stand There's nowhere else I'd rather go Than sitting quiet, holding your hand

Bridge

Let the leaves keep falling where they fall I'm not going anywhere at all Whatever comes, I'll take your call You're still the one I answer to

Chorus

Ben, you are the warmest thing I know You steady me when I can't stand There's nowhere else I'd rather go Than sitting quiet, holding your hand

Outro

The bench will always hold our weight I'd wait for you at any gate

Verse 1

Rain slides down the yellow canopy Slow, like it's in no rush at all I watch it drip and think of you How you stay steady when others fall

Pre-chorus

You never made me ask you twice You just showed up, plain and true So here's the thing I can't hold in

Chorus

Ben, you're the calm I didn't plan for Something in you settles me again Every storm feels smaller with you near I keep choosing you, Ben

Verse 2

The canopy holds, though the sky won't Water finds the seam and slips through Some things bend without breaking apart That's the way I've learned to love you

Pre-chorus

You never made me ask you twice You just showed up, plain and true So here's the thing I can't hold in

Chorus

Ben, you're the calm I didn't plan for Something in you settles me again Every storm feels smaller with you near I keep choosing you, Ben

Bridge

No grand thing, just you staying Just a hand that doesn't let go That's louder than any promise That's the whole of what I know

Chorus

Ben, you're the calm I didn't plan for Something in you settles me again Every storm feels smaller with you near I keep choosing you, Ben

Outro

Rain still slides down that yellow canopy And still I'd rather be nowhere but here

Verse 1

Far across the valley the metal wheels are turning a quiet click of distance while the porch light keeps on burning Nothing in the dark tonight will ever reach this bed just settle in the pillow now and rest your sleepy head

Pre-chorus

Every sound out there is far and fading slow the whole wide night is turning down its glow and closer than a whisper, love is holding on

Chorus

Ben, the dark is only quiet, nothing more Ben, I'm right beside you like I was before Close your eyes, the night has nowhere else to be you are held, you are warm, you are safe with me

Verse 2

The tracks run on for miles where the hills begin to soften and somewhere out there trains still sing the songs they've sung so often But nothing calls you from this warmth, this blanket, this small room so drift along and let the dark become a gentle tune

Chorus

Ben, the dark is only quiet, nothing more Ben, I'm right beside you like I was before Close your eyes, the night has nowhere else to be you are held, you are warm, you are safe with me

Bridge

Let the far off world go clicking on its way you don't have to follow it, you only have to stay wrapped in something steady, something built to hold

Chorus

Ben, the dark is only quiet, nothing more Ben, I'm right beside you like I was before Close your eyes, the night has nowhere else to be you are held, you are warm, you are safe with me

Outro

Far across the valley the metal wheels grow quiet and here you rest, so loved, so still, beside me

Verse 1

Frost is creeping soft along the lowest edge of glass Drawing quiet little patterns just for you to see Nothing in the dark tonight will touch you as you pass Into sleep as gentle as a hush beneath a tree

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes, the whole wide night is holding very still Every shadow in this room is soft and means no harm Let the quiet carry you wherever dreams you will

Chorus

Sleep now, Ben, the frost is drawing pictures on the pane Nothing in this house will ever let you down again You are held so closely, warm against the cold and rain There is no safer place tonight for you, my Ben

Verse 2

Somewhere past the window all the world has gone to rest Trusting you to morning like a promise kept and true Every little breath you take is proof that you are blessed With a warmth that never leaves this quiet room with you

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes, the whole wide night is holding very still Every shadow in this room is soft and means no harm Let the quiet carry you wherever dreams you will

Chorus

Sleep now, Ben, the frost is drawing pictures on the pane Nothing in this house will ever let you down again You are held so closely, warm against the cold and rain There is no safer place tonight for you, my Ben

Bridge

Hush now, let the humming carry all your worries far away Nothing waits beyond the window but a calm and gentle grey

Chorus

Sleep now, Ben, the frost is drawing pictures on the pane Nothing in this house will ever let you down again You are held so closely, warm against the cold and rain There is no safer place tonight for you, my Ben

Outro

The frost will still be there when morning finally comes to call And you'll be safe and warm no matter what falls soft outside

Verse 1

A beam of yellow light lies soft against the ceiling and the whole wide dark bends gently round its glow you are wrapped in something warmer than the quiet and I will stay right here and watch it, watching you grow slow

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes now, let the evening carry you there is nothing in the shadows you should mind the night is only holding what the daylight leaves behind

Chorus

Sleep now, Ben, the light will stay till morning hush now, Ben, there's nothing you need fear the dark can't touch the place where you are lying Ben, my Ben, I'll always still be here

Verse 2

The beam moves slow across the ceiling while you're dreaming tracing out a road that only you can see you are safer than a house with all its doors locked tight there is nowhere in this world you'd rather be

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes now, let the evening carry you there is nothing in the shadows you should mind the night is only holding what the daylight leaves behind

Chorus

Sleep now, Ben, the light will stay till morning hush now, Ben, there's nothing you need fear the dark can't touch the place where you are lying Ben, my Ben, I'll always still be here

Bridge

Every breath you take is small and steady and it settles every worry I have known

Chorus

Sleep now, Ben, the light will stay till morning hush now, Ben, there's nothing you need fear the dark can't touch the place where you are lying Ben, my Ben, I'll always still be here

Outro

The beam will still be shining when the morning comes to find you and I'll be right beside you when it does