Songs for Bilal

Verse 1

Rain came down but you still showed up Left three cups out on the bench Nobody else could pull that off You turn a puddle to a party trench

Chorus

Bilal, we're raising every cup Nobody lights a room like you Nothing tonight could shut us up Bilal, here's to another year through

Verse 2

You laugh and the whole street hears it Leaves fall down but you don't care Every plan you make gets messier You still somehow get us all there

Pre-chorus

Something in you makes us gather Something in you makes it click So pass the cups around now

Chorus

Bilal, we're raising every cup Nobody lights a room like you Nothing tonight could shut us up Bilal, here's to another year through

Bridge

You could be a citadel Standing strong through wind and rain We'd still find you at the carousel Buying the next round again

Chorus

Bilal, we're raising every cup Nobody lights a room like you Nothing tonight could shut us up Bilal, here's to another year through

Outro

Three cups still sit there empty Because tonight was always about you

Verse 1

Cans of soup lined up in a row one balloon that won't quite go nothing here that's polished or new but the whole room lifts for you

Pre-chorus

We didn't plan a big parade just a kitchen and the mess we made but the feeling's building, watch it grow

Chorus

Bilal, Bilal, light of the room every candle knows it's you it's for clap your hands and call out the name Bilal, you're the one we're cheering for

Verse 2

That balloon keeps dipping to the ground still you laugh at the silliest sound no fancy cake, no fancy shelf just us happy you're just yourself

Bridge

However small the party seems you're the one who fills our dreams blow the candles, make the wish you're worth more than we can list

Chorus

Bilal, Bilal, light of the room every candle knows it's you it's for clap your hands and call out the name Bilal, you're the one we're cheering for

Outro

The balloon will lose its air by morning but you'll still be the one worth cheering

Verse 1

Old clay pot on the bench Sitting there through wind and dark Somebody kept it close for years And that is how we hold you, Bilal

Pre-chorus

We could talk all night about you Every story starts the same So let the trumpets say it now

Chorus

Bilal, light up this room tonight You make the ordinary bright Nobody rings us like a bell The way you do, Bilal, so let it swell

Verse 2

Dust upon the window pane Sun still finds a way straight through You do that for everyone here Breaking grey wide open, Bilal

Bridge

Raise the horns up high Let the whole street hear We are glad you're breathing We are glad you're here

Chorus

Bilal, light up this room tonight You make the ordinary bright Nobody rings us like a bell The way you do, Bilal, so let it swell

Outro

That old pot still holds the light Happy birthday, Bilal, hold it tight

Verse 1

Two napkins stuck to the counter Salt in the air, nothing shorter You reach for the vinegar first Hand brushes mine, and I burst

Pre-chorus

Nothing here was built to last No candles lit, no plans held fast But I don't want this moment to pass

Chorus

Bilal, you make the plain things gleam Some kind of gazelle in my quiet dream No grand hall, no citadel Just you, Bilal, and I'm under your spell

Verse 2

You wipe your hands on your sleeve Laugh at a joke I didn't quite achieve The lights hum low above our heads This is enough, is all that's said

Bridge

I've known love dressed up, love in disguise But never this steady look in your eyes No fireworks, no grand farewell Just you, staying, and that's swell

Chorus

Bilal, you make the plain things gleam Some kind of gazelle in my quiet dream No grand hall, no citadel Just you, Bilal, and I'm under your spell

Outro

Two napkins still stuck where we sat Still holding you close after that

Verse 1

Two small things leaning in one cup nothing fancy, nothing grand but I chose mine to stand by yours and you let mine stand where it stands

Chorus

Bilal, you make the small things holy just by choosing to stay every plain and ordinary morning you turn to grace some way

Verse 2

I never thought a shelf could hold this much of what I feel but you make simple rooms feel sacred you make the quiet real

Pre-chorus

Some folks need the whole wide world to prove that love is true but I just need this little space where I keep standing next to you

Chorus

Bilal, you make the small things holy just by choosing to stay every plain and ordinary morning you turn to grace some way

Bridge

No mountain top, no grand parade just you here, close to me and that has always been enough that has always set me free

Chorus

Bilal, you make the small things holy just by choosing to stay every plain and ordinary morning you turn to grace some way

Outro

Two small things leaning in one cup and I would choose you, every day

Verse 1

I balanced the peas on the loaf Careless, half laughing, in no rush You caught it before it could fall You always catch what I might lose

Chorus

Bilal, you steady my whole day Small things go soft when you're this way No grand design, just how you move Bilal, you make the ordinary stay

Verse 2

The bread got squashed, we didn't care We stood there laughing in the hall You said that's love, a little bruised I believed you, believed it all

Pre-chorus

Nothing about us is a show No fireworks, just this steady glow And still my heart won't let you go

Chorus

Bilal, you steady my whole day Small things go soft when you're this way No grand design, just how you move Bilal, you make the ordinary stay

Bridge

Keep dropping bags of nothing much I'll keep loving you like that Frozen peas or steady hands It's you I'm always reaching back to

Chorus

Bilal, you steady my whole day Small things go soft when you're this way No grand design, just how you move Bilal, you make the ordinary stay

Outro

The bread's gone stale, the peas thawed out But you're still here, that's what love's about

Verse 1

Behind the glass door the long pendulum swings so slow It hums the same hush it hummed an hour ago And every soft tick is a promise the dark days keep That you are so loved as you drift down to sleep

Pre-chorus

The hallway light dims to a warm and honeyed glow The house breathes out gently and settles down low Close your eyes now, let the quiet come and swell

Chorus

Sleep now, sleep now, my darling Bilal Safe as the moonlight that falls on you all No storm can reach you, no shadow, no swell You are my treasure, my calm citadel

Verse 2

The clock in the hallway keeps its slow faithful pace Marking each minute with unhurried grace Nothing can hurry the love that holds you tonight It simply keeps swinging until morning light

Bridge

Rest your small hands, let your breathing grow deep Every soft tick is a lullaby you keep Nothing will wake you, nothing will compel Only the dark, holding you well

Chorus

Sleep now, sleep now, my darling Bilal Safe as the moonlight that falls on you all No storm can reach you, no shadow, no swell You are my treasure, my calm citadel

Outro

The pendulum swings behind its glass door still And you sleep on, safe from any chill

Verse 1

There is a small red light that watches from the wooden box It never blinks, it never sleeps, it holds its steady glow You do not need to keep your eyes open a moment longer I will be here after the last of the light goes low

Pre-chorus

The house has gone quiet and folded its walls in close Nothing can reach you now the day has let you go Rest now, and let the dark be soft and slow

Chorus

Bilal, the night has room enough to hold you safe till morning You are the warmest thing inside this whole dim little house Sleep does not take you far, it just sets you down so gently Bilal, however far you drift, I will not let you out

Verse 2

Somewhere a small light hums along without a single worry It does not ask for anything, it just stays lit and true That is how I feel about you curled up under blankets Steady, glowing, needing nothing else but simply you

Pre-chorus

The house has gone quiet and folded its walls in close Nothing can reach you now the day has let you go Rest now, and let the dark be soft and slow

Chorus

Bilal, the night has room enough to hold you safe till morning You are the warmest thing inside this whole dim little house Sleep does not take you far, it just sets you down so gently Bilal, however far you drift, I will not let you out

Bridge

Close your eyes and let the small light keep its patient watch Nothing in this room would ever wish you harm

Chorus

Bilal, the night has room enough to hold you safe till morning You are the warmest thing inside this whole dim little house Sleep does not take you far, it just sets you down so gently Bilal, however far you drift, I will not let you out

Outro

Sleep now, the small red light will keep its steady glowing Long after you have drifted off, I will still be here

Verse 1

Three cold drops are sliding down the corner of the glass tonight Chasing one another slowly through the last of the porch light Nothing out there needs you, everything out there can wait You are wrapped up warmer than the moon is warm and bright

Pre-chorus

The rain keeps its own time, so soft you barely hear it fall Every drop is smaller than the love that holds you close through all So let your eyes grow heavy as the hush begins to swell

Chorus

Bilal, the whole dark house is breathing slow around you now Nothing in the night could ever touch you, I won't allow You are held the way the harbour holds a returning vessel Sleep, Bilal, there's nowhere safer than right here where you dwell

Verse 2

The window holds its three small travellers, still not home yet Taking their own sweet time down the pane, as if they forget But you don't have to wander, you can rest inside these walls You're already where you're going, already my one and best

Pre-chorus

The rain keeps its own time, so soft you barely hear it fall Every drop is smaller than the love that holds you close through all So let your eyes grow heavy as the hush begins to swell

Chorus

Bilal, the whole dark house is breathing slow around you now Nothing in the night could ever touch you, I won't allow You are held the way the harbour holds a returning vessel Sleep, Bilal, there's nowhere safer than right here where you dwell

Bridge

Somewhere far off a carousel has finally gone still Every small bright thing is quiet, resting where it will And you are the quietest, warmest thing of all tonight

Chorus

Bilal, the whole dark house is breathing slow around you now Nothing in the night could ever touch you, I won't allow You are held the way the harbour holds a returning vessel Sleep, Bilal, there's nowhere safer than right here where you dwell

Outro

The last drop reaches the sill and settles, done with falling You are settled too now, safe and warm and past all calling