Songs for Donald

Verse 1

Pigeons peck at crumbs below Same old bench, damp and green But you walk by and steal the show Best thing this old park has seen

Pre-chorus

Something lifts when you're around Feet start tapping, no one's told Music's building without a sound

Chorus

Happy birthday, Donald, stand up tall We came here just for you Every voice out to enthrall Donald, make this birthday true

Verse 2

Wings all scatter, birds take flight Crumbs forgotten on the ground But you're the one who makes it right Warmest face that we have found

Pre-chorus

Something lifts when you're around Feet start tapping, no one's told Music's building without a sound

Chorus

Happy birthday, Donald, stand up tall We came here just for you Every voice out to enthrall Donald, make this birthday true

Bridge

Let the whole brass section swing Raise a glass and hold it high One more year of everything One more reason, tell you why

Chorus

Happy birthday, Donald, stand up tall We came here just for you Every voice out to enthrall Donald, make this birthday true

Outro

Bench still sits beneath the tree But today, the world sings you

Verse 1

Your boots are caked in garden mud Left standing by the gate You always come back muddier No matter how you wait

Chorus

Happy birthday, Donald, stand up tall We're raising every glass Donald, you keep growing on us Like nothing ever passed

Verse 2

That wheelbarrow's rusted through But still you push it on You've got a way of keeping things Long after strength has gone

Pre-chorus

So let the candles catch the wind And let the whole street hear We're not done singing yet, not close

Chorus

Happy birthday, Donald, stand up tall We're raising every glass Donald, you keep growing on us Like nothing ever passed

Bridge

Another year of dirt and sun Another row you've sown You've never done a single thing The way it's always known

Chorus

Happy birthday, Donald, stand up tall We're raising every glass Donald, you keep growing on us Like nothing ever passed

Outro

Your boots will wait beside the gate We're glad you're standing here

Verse 1

Gravel's calling out your name Bicycle wheels sound the same Every year that chain link rings Clapping hands for what today brings

Pre-chorus

Hear the wheels come round the bend Feel the joy that has no end Stand up now, don't wait to sing

Chorus

Donald, Donald, ring that bell Nobody lights a room so well Donald, here's the day we crown Glad the whole wide world around

Verse 2

Fence rattles when you come near Bring the noise we love to hear You turn corners, spark and grin Watch the whole street let you in

Pre-chorus

Hear the wheels come round the bend Feel the joy that has no end Stand up now, don't wait to sing

Chorus

Donald, Donald, ring that bell Nobody lights a room so well Donald, here's the day we crown Glad the whole wide world around

Bridge

We been waiting on this sound Feet that fly and never touch ground Every spin brings you back home Right where you were always known

Chorus

Donald, Donald, ring that bell Nobody lights a room so well Donald, here's the day we crown Glad the whole wide world around

Outro

Gravel settles, wheels roll still We'll keep singing till we will

Verse 1

Two cups going cold on green paint you handed me mine without complaint the steam went up and caught the light and everything felt easy and right

Chorus

Donald, you sit so calm beside me nothing about this is showy or flashy I could stay here for hours instead just the warmth of your shoulder and bread

Verse 2

You spilled a little on your sleeve I laughed, you let me, didn't grieve some mornings say more than words can this one did, and I understand

Pre-chorus

No plans, no clock telling us to move nothing here that we need to prove just this bench, and you, pulling me in

Chorus

Donald, you sit so calm beside me nothing about this is showy or flashy I could stay here for hours instead just the warmth of your shoulder and bread

Bridge

I've loved you in louder, harder days but this is the one that always stays two cups, a bench, your hand near mine

Chorus

Donald, you sit so calm beside me nothing about this is showy or flashy I could stay here for hours instead just the warmth of your shoulder and bread

Outro

The cups went cold, we didn't care Donald, I'd sit forever there

Verse 1

Two gulls stood still on the damp sand Beside one boot, left there alone I thought of how you take my hand And make the strangest places home

Chorus

Donald, you steady my whole day There's no one else I'd rather choose Whatever the tide drags away Donald, it's you I never lose

Verse 2

The morning wasn't much to see Grey water, one forgotten boot But you were right there next to me And that's what made the picture true

Pre-chorus

I don't need more than what we've got A quiet walk, a hand to hold And every plain and ordinary spot

Chorus

Donald, you steady my whole day There's no one else I'd rather choose Whatever the tide drags away Donald, it's you I never lose

Bridge

Let the water come and take the shore I'll still be standing where you are Every year I love you more Near or however far

Chorus

Donald, you steady my whole day There's no one else I'd rather choose Whatever the tide drags away Donald, it's you I never lose

Outro

Two gulls still stand on the sand One boot, and you, and my whole hand

Verse 1

Empty tarmac, sodium glow One trolley rolling, slow and free Nothing else moving out there tonight Just like the way you move through me

Chorus

Donald, you're the calm I chose Steady as that light above Nobody else has ever known Donald, this easy kind of love

Verse 2

No rush here, no reason to run We take the long way, we don't mind Some folks chase the noise and the crowd You're the quiet I wanted to find

Pre-chorus

I've watched small things roll home before Never thought they'd mean much at all Then you showed me what steady's for

Chorus

Donald, you're the calm I chose Steady as that light above Nobody else has ever known Donald, this easy kind of love

Bridge

Some nights are loud, some nights are still This one's still, and you're right here That's really all I ever want

Chorus

Donald, you're the calm I chose Steady as that light above Nobody else has ever known Donald, this easy kind of love

Outro

Trolley's stopped, the lot's gone quiet I'm still here, still glad it's you

Verse 1

The wool fringe drifts so slowly along the old wooden floor soft as a whisper you barely could hear every colour of that quilt was chosen just for you, Donald and the dark outside tonight has nothing to fear

Pre-chorus

Your breathing slows to match the candle's gentle sway the whole wide house is settling down to rest and quiet wraps around you closer than the day

Chorus

Donald, the night is holding you so gently now soft as the wool that trails along the floor Donald, you are loved beyond what words can carry safe in this room and needing nothing more

Verse 2

Somewhere a thread of wool has stopped its wandering path curled at the edge where the shadows grow long you are the warmest thing this whole house is keeping tucked in as safe as a well remembered song

Bridge

Every stitch of that quilt was made with you in mind let your small hands go still, let your worries unwind

Chorus

Donald, the night is holding you so gently now soft as the wool that trails along the floor Donald, you are loved beyond what words can carry safe in this room and needing nothing more

Outro

Somewhere that fringe of wool has come to rest at last and so, dear one, may you, as the night grows deep and vast

Verse 1

The radiator clicks so soft against the wall tonight Behind the floral curtain all the world has gone to rest Donald, you are wrapped in warmth and gentle amber light Every hush around this room was made to keep you blessed

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes, the house is breathing slow and low Nothing in this room will ask you to be anywhere but here So let the quiet carry you to where the soft dreams go

Chorus

Donald, sleep, the night is holding you so gently now Warm and small beneath the ceiling, safe from any storm You are loved beyond whatever words could ever quite allow Donald, rest here where it's tender, rest here where it's warm

Verse 2

The click behind the curtain hums a tune too small to name Somewhere far away the wind is turning, but it can't get in You are curled up like a secret, safe from anything like blame Nothing has to happen now, no reason to begin

Bridge

Sleep can be a small warm room where nothing needs to change Hold that thought like it's a coal still glowing after dark

Chorus

Donald, sleep, the night is holding you so gently now Warm and small beneath the ceiling, safe from any storm You are loved beyond whatever words could ever quite allow Donald, rest here where it's tender, rest here where it's warm

Outro

The radiator clicks its last soft click against the wall And Donald, you are held here, softer than a curtain's fall

Verse 1

Rest the oar across the boat and let the water still Nothing pulls you now, my love, no current and no chill Close your eyes beneath the quiet dark Sleep will carry you where dreaming has no will

Chorus

Donald, hush now, all the rowing's done Float here safely till the rise of sun Donald, nothing calls you back tonight You are held already, you are the only one

Verse 2

Somewhere far the ripples fold themselves to sleep Every wave that rocked you now is soft and slow and deep You don't need to steer or reach or hold This is the hour when even rivers keep

Pre-chorus

Let your small hands loosen, let them drift and settle down Feel how the dark has wrapped you gently all around There is nowhere left to go but into

Chorus

Donald, hush now, all the rowing's done Float here safely till the rise of sun Donald, nothing calls you back tonight You are held already, you are the only one

Bridge

Whatever the day asked of you, it can wait outside this room No oar to lift, no shore to find, only you and this soft gloom

Chorus

Donald, hush now, all the rowing's done Float here safely till the rise of sun Donald, nothing calls you back tonight You are held already, you are the only one

Outro

Lay the oar down flat, let the water hold its breath Sleep now, Donald, safe till morning comes on soft, slow steps