Songs for Dahlia

Verse 1

Cups on the lock gate, empty and grinning Peel in a pile where the party ran late Nobody rushed us, nobody's leaving We stayed for you, so we stayed out late

Chorus

Dahlia, put your hands up high We came out here to make some noise Light up the gate, Dahlia Best thing this old river's got

Verse 2

Somebody's jacket left on the railing Somebody's laugh still stuck in the air You made a Tuesday feel like a wedding You make a crowd feel like it belongs there

Pre-chorus

Count up the cups, count up the years Every one of them worth the mess So raise it up before it clears

Chorus

Dahlia, put your hands up high We came out here to make some noise Light up the gate, Dahlia Best thing this old river's got

Bridge

Peel goes soft and the paper cups scatter But nobody here forgets why we came We came for you, that's the only matter We'll shout the whole way home your name

Chorus

Dahlia, put your hands up high We came out here to make some noise Light up the gate, Dahlia Best thing this old river's got

Outro

Leave the cups for morning to find You're the reason we stayed behind

Verse 1

Footprints freezing by the postbox Grey slush turning into gold Every step you take beside me Warms me up against the cold

Pre-chorus

Pull your coat in, take my hand Something's coming, can't you feel it Table's set, the candles stand

Chorus

Dahlia, the room lights up for you Raise a glass and raise it higher Dahlia, we're all so glad it's true That you were born to set us on fire

Verse 2

Red postbox stood there watching Snow come down on either side You just laughed and kept on walking Nothing dims that spark inside

Chorus

Dahlia, the room lights up for you Raise a glass and raise it higher Dahlia, we're all so glad it's true That you were born to set us on fire

Bridge

Every year the frost comes creeping Every year you shine straight through Whatever the weather's keeping We're just glad we're stood with you

Chorus

Dahlia, the room lights up for you Raise a glass and raise it higher Dahlia, we're all so glad it's true That you were born to set us on fire

Outro

Footprints fading in the slush now Still the postbox glowing red

Verse 1

Grey skies hang low today Watering can out on display But nothing dampens down this crowd We came to sing your name out loud

Pre-chorus

You turn the dullest day to gold You warm a room before it's told So let the whole band swing and blow

Chorus

Dahlia, light up this whole room Dahlia, banish every gloom Two names could never sound so grand You bloom no matter what's on hand

Verse 2

Cabbage leaves out in the rain Still you never once complain You make the greyest morning shine Best surprise this side of Thalia

Bridge

Every year you get more you Brighter than azalea in full view Not regalia, not some crown Just you, lighting up this town

Chorus

Dahlia, light up this whole room Dahlia, banish every gloom Two names could never sound so grand You bloom no matter what's on hand

Outro

Rain or shine on this old can You're the bloom that lights the land

Verse 1

Shops are shut, the street is ours Sodium light on the wet ground You are laughing at nothing Best sound this town has found

Pre-chorus

I keep looking over at you Half the streetlamps burnt out gold Something is building quietly

Chorus

Dahlia, walk slower with me No one else is out this late Every dull road turns golden Dahlia, when you're by my gate

Verse 2

Puddles hold the whole sky sideways You step round them, holding my hand This is not a big occasion Just a Tuesday I understand

Bridge

No music, no plans, no reason Just the hum of a light gone amber I would take this over most things I would take this over grander

Chorus

Dahlia, walk slower with me No one else is out this late Every dull road turns golden Dahlia, when you're by my gate

Outro

Shops still shut, the street still ours Gold still falling where you stand

Verse 1

Water spins down slow tonight Bubbles catching the last of the light I stand here long after it's clean Just glad you're still in my sight

Pre-chorus

It's not the big words that hold us It's the dishes, the dark, the small talk I turn from the sink and I know

Chorus

Dahlia, you're the calm in my chest The one I want when I rest Dahlia, stay a while longer You're still the one I love best

Verse 2

The house goes quiet around us Only the pipes softly sighing I dry my hands, I find you And that's where I keep on trying

Chorus

Dahlia, you're the calm in my chest The one I want when I rest Dahlia, stay a while longer You're still the one I love best

Bridge

No grand parade, no fireworks bright Just you beside me most every night That's the love I chose to keep

Chorus

Dahlia, you're the calm in my chest The one I want when I rest Dahlia, stay a while longer You're still the one I love best

Outro

The water's long gone down the drain But you're still here, and I'm glad you remain

Verse 1

Dust turns slow in the morning light Catching gold on its way to bright I watch it drift across the floor And think of you like never before

Pre-chorus

Small things keep showing me Just how deep this love can be And I can't hold it in no more

Chorus

Dahlia, you're the light I keep Steady while the world's asleep Dahlia, plain as morning sun You're the truest thing I've won

Verse 2

Linoleum cold beneath my feet Still I feel you in the heat Of a beam that moves so slow Like it knows the way I glow

Bridge

No need for grand or loud No need to prove it to a crowd Just this quiet, just this light Just you, steady, just you, right

Chorus

Dahlia, you're the light I keep Steady while the world's asleep Dahlia, plain as morning sun You're the truest thing I've won

Outro

Dust will settle, light will fade Still you're the warmth that light has made

Verse 1

The green hood trembles soft above where you are lying still Dry leaves are drifting down so slow, they mean you no harm at all I feel the whole wide night grow quiet just to hold you until You close your eyes and drift away, so peaceful, small and small

Pre-chorus

Hush now, the wind has settled low and soft around your bed Nothing can reach you here tonight, not one thing to be feared So let your breathing slow right down and rest your sleepy head

Chorus

Dahlia, the dark is only kindness wrapped in grey Every star tonight is leaning close to watch you dream Dahlia, my love for you will never drift away You are the calmest, warmest thing this whole night's ever seen

Verse 2

The branches sway so gently that they barely make a sound Every leaf that falls is just the sky tucking you in tight I will stay right here beside you till the morning comes around Nothing in this whole wide dark could ever dim your light

Chorus

Dahlia, the dark is only kindness wrapped in grey Every star tonight is leaning close to watch you dream Dahlia, my love for you will never drift away You are the calmest, warmest thing this whole night's ever seen

Bridge

Sleep now, there is nowhere safer than this quiet space Every leaf that settles down is settling to keep you warm

Chorus

Dahlia, the dark is only kindness wrapped in grey Every star tonight is leaning close to watch you dream Dahlia, my love for you will never drift away You are the calmest, warmest thing this whole night's ever seen

Outro

The green hood settles softly now, still trembling overhead Sleep on, my dear Dahlia, the night has tucked you into bed

Verse 1

Wicker sighs beneath us as we settle into stillness Wood remembers every gentle motion that we give it Nothing here will hurry you or ask you to be quicker You are held so softly nothing here could ever chill us

Pre-chorus

Floorboards hum a answer to the rocking overhead Every creak is saying all is well and go to bed Close your eyes now, let the quiet carry what I said

Chorus

Sleep is calling gently now, Dahlia, hear it humming Rest is coming closer like a warm and welcome coming Nothing in this house tonight will ever cause you sorrow Dahlia, my Dahlia, safe until tomorrow

Verse 2

Painted boards below us hold the weight of this small motion Nothing needs an answer, there is no grand plan or notion You can let the day go, drifting out like tide from shore Rest is just a rhythm that was always yours before

Bridge

Creak and pause and creak again, a heartbeat made of wood Everything is quiet now, and everything is good

Chorus

Sleep is calling gently now, Dahlia, hear it humming Rest is coming closer like a warm and welcome coming Nothing in this house tonight will ever cause you sorrow Dahlia, my Dahlia, safe until tomorrow

Outro

Wicker settles slower now, the rocking nearly done Sleep has found you gently, little one

Verse 1

Water beads along the wall where cool air settles down Somewhere out beyond the fence a hose lies coiled and still Nothing in the dark tonight will ever come this near You are wrapped up safe already, tucked behind the sill

Chorus

Dahlia, close your eyes now, let the evening hold you tight Nothing needs your worry, everything is fine Sleep will come and find you gently, soft as fading light Dahlia, you were always precious, always mine

Verse 2

Old brick keeps the warmth of daytime pressed against its skin Shadows learn to move so slowly nothing seems to stir Breathe it in and let it settle, let the hush begin This whole quiet garden waits for nothing but for you

Pre-chorus

Hear how soft the darkness falls around this little room Every worry of the daylight melts away by now Rest is coming closer, gentle as it always does

Chorus

Dahlia, close your eyes now, let the evening hold you tight Nothing needs your worry, everything is fine Sleep will come and find you gently, soft as fading light Dahlia, you were always precious, always mine

Bridge

Damp and dark and full of quiet, night leans softly on the wall Nothing there can ever touch you, nothing there at all

Chorus

Dahlia, close your eyes now, let the evening hold you tight Nothing needs your worry, everything is fine Sleep will come and find you gently, soft as fading light Dahlia, you were always precious, always mine

Outro

Somewhere the brick still holds its warmth against the falling dew Sleep now, Dahlia, someone stays awake to watch for you