Songs for Carter

Verse 1

Bikes chained up on rusty wire Kids come running, kicking higher Noise and laughter fill the street But you're the one who makes it sweet

Chorus

Carter, Carter, light of the day Everybody's got something to say We came to sing and we came to shout Carter, this day is what you're about

Verse 2

You never needed to be the loudest You just showed up and made us proudest Something steady in how you stand Something warm in every hand you land

Pre-chorus

So let the whole street hear it now Clap your hands and take a bow We've been building up to this somehow

Chorus

Carter, Carter, light of the day Everybody's got something to say We came to sing and we came to shout Carter, this day is what you're about

Bridge

Every year that rolls on through Just makes us surer about you No candle burns as bright as this No cheer we'd rather send amiss

Chorus

Carter, Carter, light of the day Everybody's got something to say We came to sing and we came to shout Carter, this day is what you're about

Outro

Chains rattle loose, the kids run home But you're the name we'll always know

Verse 1

Neon flickers over the booth Paper cups spin loose in the dirt Nobody else pulls a crowd like this You make an old fairground feel like a rebirth

Pre-chorus

Every bulb tonight burns for one reason Every ticket sold just to see you here So let the lights lean in closer

Chorus

Carter, the whole street's glowing Carter, we came for you Nobody smarter, nobody louder We're shouting your name till it's true

Verse 2

You wear this night like a crown Loud and a little bit wild We'd wait in line for hours just for you You've got the grin of a favourite child

Chorus

Carter, the whole street's glowing Carter, we came for you Nobody smarter, nobody louder We're shouting your name till it's true

Bridge

Blow out every bulb if you want to We'll light them again just for you Another year older, still our best starter Still the one we're gathering round

Chorus

Carter, the whole street's glowing Carter, we came for you Nobody smarter, nobody louder We're shouting your name till it's true

Outro

Let the cups roll on in the dirt We'll keep the lights on for you

Verse 1

Milk bottles rattle in the crate Banging out a beat by the gate Carter, you never once walked quiet Every room you enter, you shake

Pre-chorus

Hear that clatter, hear it swell Something's coming, we can tell Get the trumpets ready to blow

Chorus

Carter, Carter, here comes the sound Loudest heart in this whole town Nobody rattles a crate like you Carter, Carter, glad you're around

Verse 2

You turn up and the whole street grins Racket starts and the party begins Carter, you make the ordinary shine We're better off with you in it

Chorus

Carter, Carter, here comes the sound Loudest heart in this whole town Nobody rattles a crate like you Carter, Carter, glad you're around

Bridge

Raise the horns up, raise a glass Nobody moves when Carter walks past We love the noise you bring us

Chorus

Carter, Carter, here comes the sound Loudest heart in this whole town Nobody rattles a crate like you Carter, Carter, glad you're around

Outro

Bottles still ringing by the door We wouldn't want you any quieter

Verse 1

Peas sliding down against the wire Cold tins stacked up higher and higher I reach past you for the soup You smile like you were the one I'd require

Pre-chorus

Nothing here is dressed up fine No candlelight, no perfect line Just you, right here, pulling me closer

Chorus

Carter, you make plain things shine Every ordinary hour feels like mine Nobody else could turn a Tuesday golden Carter, I keep choosing you, one more time

Verse 2

You laugh at how I read the labels Slow down every cart that's able We block the whole frozen aisle And I don't care, not even a fable

Bridge

Some folks wait for grand and rare I found mine in fluorescent glare You caught my eye by the tinned tomatoes And I knew right there

Chorus

Carter, you make plain things shine Every ordinary hour feels like mine Nobody else could turn a Tuesday golden Carter, I keep choosing you, one more time

Outro

Peas still sliding down the wire You're still the thing I most desire

Verse 1

Wet leaves cling to the rake by the pots we never moved you linger there for my sake slower than you have to move

Pre-chorus

Nothing here is asking to be kept yet you kneel down anyway something in me hasn't slept

Chorus

Carter, you make the leaving slow you turn the porch into a start smarter than the hearts I know Carter, you rearranged my heart

Verse 2

Rust comes off onto your palm you rub it like it matters hold the evening long and calm while the light around us scatters

Bridge

I could name the things you do stack them up like terracotta none of them explain it true none of them are why you matter

Chorus

Carter, you make the leaving slow you turn the porch into a start smarter than the hearts I know Carter, you rearranged my heart

Outro

The rake still leans against the wall and I'm in no rush at all

Verse 1

Yellow paper behind the glass Told me every hour you'd come I stood there reading it twice Just to make the waiting some

Pre-chorus

I've counted minutes before Never minded the wait But this one's different, Carter

Chorus

Carter, you're the thing worth waiting for No timetable could ever hold your name Steady as the hour I trust you'll come Carter, you arrive and I'm not the same

Verse 2

Dirty glass never hid you You came through clearer than most You're not a schedule I follow You're the one thing I chose

Pre-chorus

I've counted minutes before Never minded the wait But this one's different, Carter

Chorus

Carter, you're the thing worth waiting for No timetable could ever hold your name Steady as the hour I trust you'll come Carter, you arrive and I'm not the same

Bridge

Some folks watch the clock all day I just watch the door for you No paper printed could ever say What I already know is true

Chorus

Carter, you're the thing worth waiting for No timetable could ever hold your name Steady as the hour I trust you'll come Carter, you arrive and I'm not the same

Outro

Paper fades but you don't, Carter Still the one I'm waiting for

Verse 1

The oars have stopped their turning beneath a low wooden bench Dark reeds are holding still, no reason left to flinch Every ripple settles soft the way that quiet can And you are held so gently here, safer than a wish

Chorus

Carter, Carter, close your eyes and let the water carry you There is nothing in the dark tonight that you must barter through Every star above has slowed its spinning just for you Carter, rest, and let the night be smarter than you knew

Verse 2

The little boat won't drift too far, it knows the way back home Underneath the wooden bench the shadows learn to roam Nothing here will wake you now, no reason to be wary You are wrapped in something warmer than the reeds have ever known

Pre-chorus

Somewhere past the bending reeds the current starts to slow The lantern on the water dims to just a gentle glow And all the night is leaning in to tell you what I know

Chorus

Carter, Carter, close your eyes and let the water carry you There is nothing in the dark tonight that you must barter through Every star above has slowed its spinning just for you Carter, rest, and let the night be smarter than you knew

Bridge

No need to reach the shore just yet, no clock to answer to Just float a while inside the hush that's holding on to you

Chorus

Carter, Carter, close your eyes and let the water carry you There is nothing in the dark tonight that you must barter through Every star above has slowed its spinning just for you Carter, rest, and let the night be smarter than you knew

Outro

The oars are resting quiet now beneath the wooden bench And you are drifting safe to sleep, held close and gently kept

Verse 1

Yellow light spills soft beneath the painted door tonight Falling on the worn wool carpet, warm and quiet like a light You are wrapped in blankets, breathing slow and deep Carter, love is standing guard while you're asleep

Pre-chorus

The house is settling, every creak has gone to rest Somewhere down the hallway there's a lamp still softly dressed And nothing in the shadows means you any harm tonight

Chorus

Carter, close your eyes now, let the dark be kind There's a golden thread of light that you will always find Carter, you are held here, safe as safe can be Sleep now, little starter, someone's watching over thee

Verse 2

Somewhere past the window all the stars are keeping still Waiting with the moonlight on the windowsill You don't need to wonder if the morning comes too slow Carter, you are cradled in the gentlest glow

Pre-chorus

The house is settling, every creak has gone to rest Somewhere down the hallway there's a lamp still softly dressed And nothing in the shadows means you any harm tonight

Chorus

Carter, close your eyes now, let the dark be kind There's a golden thread of light that you will always find Carter, you are held here, safe as safe can be Sleep now, little starter, someone's watching over thee

Bridge

Hush now, nothing here will ever let you fall Every gentle hour is wrapped around you, that is all

Chorus

Carter, close your eyes now, let the dark be kind There's a golden thread of light that you will always find Carter, you are held here, safe as safe can be Sleep now, little starter, someone's watching over thee

Outro

The light beneath the door will still be there when you wake Carter, you are loved with every breath that we take

Verse 1

Leaf shadows move so slowly across the canvas hood tonight Heavy branches sway above you, easing into rest Every gentle shifting shape is dimming out of sight The whole wide world is quiet now, and you are truly blessed

Chorus

Carter, close your eyes now, let the dark be warm and kind Somebody is watching over every breath you take Carter, you are held so close, you're never left behind Sleep now in the stillness that the quiet hours make

Verse 2

The branches hush their whispers as the evening settles low Nothing in this moment asks a single thing of you Wrapped up safe and steady while the gentle breezes blow Rest inside the calm that only nighttime ever knew

Pre-chorus

Let the swaying shadows carry all your worries far away Nothing here can touch you while the darkness holds you tight Feel how safe and certain you are made to feel tonight

Chorus

Carter, close your eyes now, let the dark be warm and kind Somebody is watching over every breath you take Carter, you are held so close, you're never left behind Sleep now in the stillness that the quiet hours make

Bridge

You are loved beyond the reach of any counted hour Softly as the branches settle, so may you settle too

Chorus

Carter, close your eyes now, let the dark be warm and kind Somebody is watching over every breath you take Carter, you are held so close, you're never left behind Sleep now in the stillness that the quiet hours make

Outro

The leaf shadows still are moving, slow and soft above your head Sleep now, gentle Carter, sleep now in your bed