Songs for Cora

Verse 1

Bench is loaded, parcels stacked high Paper plates catching the sky Everybody came for one reason We show up for you every time

Pre-chorus

Feel that drum, feel it building Hands are up, we're not stalling Something good is about to land

Chorus

Cora, Cora, this one's yours We came running through open doors You light a room before you try Cora, Cora, we're asking for more

Verse 2

Candles waiting, nobody's shy Somebody's already asking why We keep making a fuss about you You're the reason we multiply

Pre-chorus

Feel that drum, feel it building Hands are up, we're not stalling Something good is about to land

Chorus

Cora, Cora, this one's yours We came running through open doors You light a room before you try Cora, Cora, we're asking for more

Bridge

Every year you get louder, brighter Every year we love you tighter Nobody else moves a room like you

Chorus

Cora, Cora, this one's yours We came running through open doors You light a room before you try Cora, Cora, we're asking for more

Outro

Bench still full, plates picked clean Best birthday this park has seen

Verse 1

Sprinkles washed along the ground Balloons gone flat without a sound But you had us laughing anyway Turned the grey into a holiday

Pre-chorus

Nobody minded the rain that fell You had a way of breaking the spell So lift your voice and get ready now

Chorus

Cora, Cora, best of the year Everybody wanted you here Cora, shining past the storm You're the one who keeps us warm

Verse 2

Puddles caught the string lights' glow Nobody wanted the night to go You danced right through the drizzle and mud Turned a damp old path to flood

Pre-chorus

Nobody minded the rain that fell You had a way of breaking the spell So lift your voice and get ready now

Chorus

Cora, Cora, best of the year Everybody wanted you here Cora, shining past the storm You're the one who keeps us warm

Bridge

Every year that passes by We're glad it's you, no question why Raise your cups and raise them high

Chorus

Cora, Cora, best of the year Everybody wanted you here Cora, shining past the storm You're the one who keeps us warm

Outro

Sprinkles fade but this one stays We'll walk that path again some day

Verse 1

You knocked the bottle right over laughing Nobody even cared at all Wrapping paper stuck to your slipper You lit this whole room up like a hall

Pre-chorus

We should mop this up before it dries But nobody's moving, no one tries Hold that grin, don't let it go

Chorus

Cora, light the candles now Sticky floor and paper everywhere We're not clearing up just yet Cora, we're so glad you're here

Verse 2

You're the reason half this room showed up Somebody's already stealing cake We keep saying one more song for you Nobody minds how long it takes

Bridge

However this year knocked you sideways You're still the one who makes us stay Pour another, spill it if you want to This is still your favourite kind of day

Chorus

Cora, light the candles now Sticky floor and paper everywhere We're not clearing up just yet Cora, we're so glad you're here

Outro

Long after the fizz has all gone flat We'll still be glad we spilled it, just like that

Verse 1

The rail was cold, the deck was grey Your glove found mine and stayed that way I felt the warmth right through the wool And something in me learned to stay

Chorus

Cora, hold on a little longer Every winter makes us stronger I never planned to need this much But Cora, this is where I belong

Verse 2

The engines hummed beneath our feet You laughed and it undid the cold I didn't need the view at all Just wanted your hand in mine to hold

Pre-chorus

I've counted every dock we've passed I've watched how steady your hands stay And still I'm reaching out for more

Chorus

Cora, hold on a little longer Every winter makes us stronger I never planned to need this much But Cora, this is where I belong

Bridge

No map for this, no course to steer Just you, the rust, the freezing air I'd cross that water every year If you were always waiting there

Chorus

Cora, hold on a little longer Every winter makes us stronger I never planned to need this much But Cora, this is where I belong

Outro

The deck still creaks, the wool still itches You're still the warmth beneath my glove

Verse 1

Rain came down and caught us out One umbrella, room for two I gave the dry half up somehow My boot went dark, but I had you

Pre-chorus

That's the whole of what love does Gives the better half away Every time it costs me something

Chorus

Cora, I would stand out here all night Half the shelter, all the care Cora, you're the warmer side of light I'd rather freeze than have you spare

Verse 2

My boot stayed wet the whole way home You never noticed, never knew I wasn't sorry, wasn't cold There's nothing I would rather do

Pre-chorus

That's the whole of what love does Gives the better half away Every time it costs me something

Chorus

Cora, I would stand out here all night Half the shelter, all the care Cora, you're the warmer side of light I'd rather freeze than have you spare

Bridge

I don't need the credit for it Just need you to stay this near Some loves shout and some just tilt One umbrella, one small tear

Chorus

Cora, I would stand out here all night Half the shelter, all the care Cora, you're the warmer side of light I'd rather freeze than have you spare

Outro

Look down, my boot's still dark with rain I'd let it happen all again

Verse 1

We left our shoes there on the sand The tide came up and took the line No one else walked this shore today Just you, still choosing to be mine

Pre-chorus

I don't need the waves to say it I don't need the sky to know You're the reason I keep coming

Chorus

Cora, you're the calm I stand in Every quiet has your name Cora, I could lose the whole map And still find my way the same

Verse 2

The mud dried hard around our laces Neither of us went back for them We walked home barefoot in the cold And you were laughing at the wind

Chorus

Cora, you're the calm I stand in Every quiet has your name Cora, I could lose the whole map And still find my way the same

Bridge

No one saw us leave them there No one needs to understand I just wanted proof we stood there Two pairs of shoes, one stretch of land

Chorus

Cora, you're the calm I stand in Every quiet has your name Cora, I could lose the whole map And still find my way the same

Outro

Somewhere our footprints are gone now But you're still walking next to me

Verse 1

Wind is rattling gently at the old flue up above you Nothing in that sound was ever meant to cause you harm Ash comes tumbling slow like it has somewhere soft to fall to Curled here safe and close within the circle of this arm

Chorus

Cora, hush now, let the whole wide house grow still around you Every little sound out there is only passing through Close your eyes, my Cora, let the dark grow soft and kind now Nothing in this night was ever, ever meant for you

Verse 2

Embers settle quiet, breathing slower than they did at sunset Watch them fade to grey the way your eyelids fade to rest You were held before this fire ever learned to flicker gently Long before tonight you were the one that I loved best

Pre-chorus

Let the wind outside keep turning, it will never reach this room Every worry you were carrying can loosen now and go Stay a little longer here before the sleep comes

Chorus

Cora, hush now, let the whole wide house grow still around you Every little sound out there is only passing through Close your eyes, my Cora, let the dark grow soft and kind now Nothing in this night was ever, ever meant for you

Bridge

Some small things fall so gently that they never make a sound You are held so much more surely than the dark is bound

Chorus

Cora, hush now, let the whole wide house grow still around you Every little sound out there is only passing through Close your eyes, my Cora, let the dark grow soft and kind now Nothing in this night was ever, ever meant for you

Outro

Somewhere low the ash keeps falling soft as breath upon the iron Sleep now, you are held here, you are warm and you are mine

Verse 1

Far off the white foam hushes soft against the stones tonight No moon is out to watch you, only starless quiet light But you are wrapped in warmth where nothing cold can ever creep And every gentle wave is singing you to sleep

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes, the dark is only velvet, soft and slow There is nothing in this night that means you harm, you know So let the hush and the tide carry you where dreams will go

Chorus

Cora, Cora, sleep is calling low and sweet Nothing in the dark can reach the warmth around your feet You are held here safer than the shore holds every stone Cora, you are never, ever, sleeping here alone

Verse 2

The water does not need a moon to find its gentle way It hums along the stones the same at night as it does by day And you don't need to see the path to know that you are safe You just need arms to hold you soft until the morning waits

Bridge

Somewhere past the edge of sight the water folds in black and grey But nothing out beyond that dark will ever come this way

Chorus

Cora, Cora, sleep is calling low and sweet Nothing in the dark can reach the warmth around your feet You are held here safer than the shore holds every stone Cora, you are never, ever, sleeping here alone

Outro

Let the far off foam keep hushing soft against the stones You are already home, and never, ever, on your own

Verse 1

Somewhere below us a tap lets its slow small drops go falling into a bowl that hums low like the house is breathing too and all of that quiet is only the world settling down around you because nothing tonight has anywhere better to be than with you

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes now, let the dark come soft and unhurried every small sound in this house is only here to keep you calm and I am right here while the night folds itself around us

Chorus

Cora, the dark is only a blanket that loves you nothing out there can reach where you softly lie Cora, I'll stay till your breathing goes even and easy you are the warmest thing underneath this whole sky

Verse 2

The kitchen forgets itself slowly, the light going gentle and grey and even the water sounds like it's humming you under

Chorus

Cora, the dark is only a blanket that loves you nothing out there can reach where you softly lie Cora, I'll stay till your breathing goes even and easy you are the warmest thing underneath this whole sky

Bridge

Let every small sound become part of your drifting the drip, the hush, the low steady hum of this home none of it matters as much as you sleeping so gently safe in the middle of all that I am

Chorus

Cora, the dark is only a blanket that loves you nothing out there can reach where you softly lie Cora, I'll stay till your breathing goes even and easy you are the warmest thing underneath this whole sky

Outro

Somewhere the water still falls into silence and stillness and you are already carried past all of it, safe and asleep