Songs for Clara

Verse 1

Boxes stacked up crooked and bright Ribbons catching all of the light Somebody planned this whole afternoon Just to watch you smile out of sight

Pre-chorus

Count the bows if you want proof Nobody stayed home tonight This much love needs a chorus

Chorus

Clara, look what love can carry Half the park came out for Clara Spin around beneath the string lights Clara, shining like Sahara

Verse 2

Paper flying off in the breeze You keep laughing, weak at the knees Somebody's climbing over gift bags Just to get you up on your feet

Bridge

Blow the candles, make the wish loud Let the whole bench hear you now

Chorus

Clara, look what love can carry Half the park came out for Clara Spin around beneath the string lights Clara, shining like Sahara

Outro

Take the boxes, leave the bench bare We'll still be right here, Clara

Verse 1

The plates are wiped down to shining Every crumb we could find is gone Clara, you started this hunger And you kept the whole party on

Pre-chorus

We came for the cake, we'll admit it But we stayed because you filled the room So light up the candles already

Chorus

Clara, you're the reason we gather Clara, you make the whole table cheer Nobody leaves half as hungry Not with you standing here

Verse 2

You laugh like the counter at closing Loud, and a little bit wild Clara, you make people braver You make the whole evening feel styled

Chorus

Clara, you're the reason we gather Clara, you make the whole table cheer Nobody leaves half as hungry Not with you standing here

Bridge

Blow every candle out slowly Let the whole room hold its breath You're the warmth we keep coming back to The best thing left on this shelf

Chorus

Clara, you're the reason we gather Clara, you make the whole table cheer Nobody leaves half as hungry Not with you standing here

Outro

The plates are empty, the lights down low Clara, that's how we know we were loved

Verse 1

Coats are piled up on the hooks Paper bags with party looks Mirror catching all the fuss But Clara, you're the best of us

Pre-chorus

Grab a hand and find your feet Fiddle's calling, hear the beat Tonight the whole house leans your way

Chorus

Clara, Clara, crown like a tiara Nobody shines it quite as far You make the dullest room feel clearer Clara, step up close to the mirror

Verse 2

Boots are stomping on the floor Somebody's shouting out for more Every face turned toward the light Clara's the reason for tonight

Bridge

Hot like the sun on Sahara sand Warm as a hand that holds your hand However far this year has been You're still the brightest thing we've seen

Chorus

Clara, Clara, crown like a tiara Nobody shines it quite as far You make the dullest room feel clearer Clara, step up close to the mirror

Outro

Hang your coat up on the hook One more year, one more good look

Verse 1

You pinned the washing out at noon Humming some forgotten tune Wind took the sheets and let them go Nothing on this line feels new since you

Pre-chorus

You made a home from simple things Gave the plainest hour wings Now I'm standing here believing

Chorus

Clara, you're the calm inside my day Every small thing points your way Two socks swinging, holding on Clara, you're the reason I don't stray

Verse 2

You hang our washing side by side One sock yours and one sock mine Wind can pull but never wins Nothing comes between what's tied

Bridge

Not a grand thing, just a line Just your hand still holding mine Ordinary, and it's enough

Chorus

Clara, you're the calm inside my day Every small thing points your way Two socks swinging, holding on Clara, you're the reason I don't stray

Outro

The wind still moves that same old line Still finds you there, and I am fine

Verse 1

You slide the plate over to me Half the sandwich, no need to ask Some things get simpler, not harder Clara, you make the giving last

Pre-chorus

The lamp keeps flickering above us Like it can't believe its luck Something in me is getting louder

Chorus

Clara, you turn the whole room clearer Every corner, every shadowed part Nobody's love has felt nearer Clara, you're steady in my heart

Verse 2

We split the hours the way we split lunch Whatever's left, we make it enough You never once counted what I owe you That's the quiet shape of your love

Pre-chorus

The lamp keeps flickering above us Like it can't believe its luck Something in me is getting louder

Chorus

Clara, you turn the whole room clearer Every corner, every shadowed part Nobody's love has felt nearer Clara, you're steady in my heart

Bridge

I don't need the whole Sahara Just this desk and half a plate Whatever's small, you make it bigger You make the waiting worth the wait

Chorus

Clara, you turn the whole room clearer Every corner, every shadowed part Nobody's love has felt nearer Clara, you're steady in my heart

Outro

The lamp's still going, the plate still shared Clara, I'm glad you're here

Verse 1

Kitchen full of noise and heat Someone's laugh, a shuffling of feet Through the crowd you hand me a glass Somehow the whole room starts to pass

Pre-chorus

Every voice turns down to a hum When you look at me the noise is gone I forget what I was waiting for

Chorus

Clara, you make the loud room clearer Nothing else in here gets nearer Clara, I'd cross this whole party twice Just to hear you say my name once

Verse 2

Somebody spills a drink and laughs You catch my eye across the gap Doesn't matter who else is there You're the only thing in the air

Pre-chorus

Every voice turns down to a hum When you look at me the noise is gone I forget what I was waiting for

Chorus

Clara, you make the loud room clearer Nothing else in here gets nearer Clara, I'd cross this whole party twice Just to hear you say my name once

Bridge

Doesn't have to be a party at all Just you, steady, standing tall Some rooms hold a hundred faces Yours is the one my heart chases

Chorus

Clara, you make the loud room clearer Nothing else in here gets nearer Clara, I'd cross this whole party twice Just to hear you say my name once

Outro

Hand me that glass again sometime I'll follow your voice through any crowd

Verse 1

The kitchen has gone dark and the tap has settled down One small drop is falling soft into the sink to drown Nothing in this house is moving now except your chest You are held here safely while the whole world takes its rest

Pre-chorus

Every sound tonight has slowed to match your breathing Even shadows in the hallway seem to still for your sake Let the quiet gather round you, there is nowhere else to be

Chorus

Clara, close your eyes now, let the dark be kind and slow You are why the whole house softens when the lights go low Nothing needs to happen, nothing needs to stir or start Clara, you are carried gently, you are held this close to heart

Verse 2

Somewhere down the hallway one last light goes dim and small You don't need to hear it, you don't need to fear at all Whatever waits past morning can wait quietly for you Rest is all this moment asks, and rest will see you through

Chorus

Clara, close your eyes now, let the dark be kind and slow You are why the whole house softens when the lights go low Nothing needs to happen, nothing needs to stir or start Clara, you are carried gently, you are held this close to heart

Bridge

Sleep can be as soft as water settling in the deep Nothing in this house will wake you, nothing breaks your keep

Chorus

Clara, close your eyes now, let the dark be kind and slow You are why the whole house softens when the lights go low Nothing needs to happen, nothing needs to stir or start Clara, you are carried gently, you are held this close to heart

Outro

Somewhere a tap still whispers, one slow drop and then it's still You are the quiet at the centre, sleeping softly as you will

Verse 1

The fire is going soft behind its little wire screen Watch how the ash comes drifting down so slow You are the warmest thing that this old room has seen Long after every ember has forgotten how to glow

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes now, let the small light fade away There is nothing in the dark that means you harm Rest here while the last of daylight starts to sway

Chorus

Clara, the night is only sleep in a warmer form Nothing in this house will ever leave you cold You are held here safer than a fire in a storm Clara, you are worth more than any story told

Verse 2

The screen holds back the sparks so none of them can stray You are held back too, from anything unkind Every falling ash flake has its own gentle way Of settling down soft, the way you settle in my mind

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes now, let the small light fade away There is nothing in the dark that means you harm Rest here while the last of daylight starts to sway

Chorus

Clara, the night is only sleep in a warmer form Nothing in this house will ever leave you cold You are held here safer than a fire in a storm Clara, you are worth more than any story told

Bridge

Even when the flame is gone the warmth stays in the stone You will always have a place that calls you home

Chorus

Clara, the night is only sleep in a warmer form Nothing in this house will ever leave you cold You are held here safer than a fire in a storm Clara, you are worth more than any story told

Outro

The last of the ash has settled soft and still Sleep now, Clara, safe from any chill

Verse 1

A woollen blanket settles soft and slow across my lap tonight The window's open just to let the cooling breeze drift light Somewhere past the glass a single star is holding still And you are here beside me, wrapped in warmth and candlelight

Pre-chorus

The night is turning gentle, folding down its edges low Every little sound outside is learning how to go So let your breathing slow to meet the hush I'm humming to you

Chorus

Clara, close your eyes now, let the dark come sit with us Nothing in this room tonight will ever make a fuss I will hold the quiet here as steady as a mirror Clara, you are held so well, there's nothing you should trust more

Verse 2

The blanket keeps its warmth like something learned by heart Nothing in the shadows here has any plan to part Out beyond the sill the wind is humming something clearer And you are safe inside it all, right from the very start

Chorus

Clara, close your eyes now, let the dark come sit with us Nothing in this room tonight will ever make a fuss I will hold the quiet here as steady as a mirror Clara, you are held so well, there's nothing you should trust more

Bridge

Sleep can be a soft place, wide and warm as any sky No need to wander far tonight, no need to wonder why You are the calm this whole house circles gently around

Chorus

Clara, close your eyes now, let the dark come sit with us Nothing in this room tonight will ever make a fuss I will hold the quiet here as steady as a mirror Clara, you are held so well, there's nothing you should trust more

Outro

The blanket stays right where it fell across my quiet lap And you are wrapped in every bit of warmth this night can hold