Songs for Elsie

Verse 1

We stacked the plates up wonky Waiting on the cake You laughed until it toppled That was no mistake

Pre-chorus

Rain came hammering on the roof We didn't mind at all With you here nothing could go wrong

Chorus

Elsie, light the candles now Elsie, make a wish Every single year with you Beats any birthday wish

Verse 2

You told the same old story And somehow made it new We didn't need the sunshine We only needed you

Bridge

Let the storm keep pouring We've got nowhere to be Just us and all this laughter And you, turning twenty three... or any age you please

Chorus

Elsie, light the candles now Elsie, make a wish Every single year with you Beats any birthday wish

Outro

Stack the plates up wonky Another year, still here

Verse 1

Foil wrappers catch the wind Confetti spins and won't stop Somebody grab that ribbon You're the reason we're a mess

Pre-chorus

Fiddle's tuning, feet are ready Nobody's sitting still tonight So lift your glass and hold it steady

Chorus

Elsie, Elsie, kick your shoes off Dance until the bench legs wobble Nobody else could fill this room like Elsie, here's to you tonight

Verse 2

Somebody's lost the candles Somebody's found them again You laugh and it fixes Every little thing that went wrong

Bridge

Let the paper crowns slip sideways Let the music run too fast We're not counting up the years here We're just glad you're here at last

Chorus

Elsie, Elsie, kick your shoes off Dance until the bench legs wobble Nobody else could fill this room like Elsie, here's to you tonight

Outro

Let the last of the foil settle We'll still be here calling your name

Verse 1

Bags sliding on the bus floor Nobody minds the crush tonight You're laughing near the window Turning the whole aisle bright

Pre-chorus

Everyone's leaning in to hear you The city outside starts to blur We're counting down the stops now

Chorus

Elsie, tonight's for you Streetlights catching your grin Nobody else in this carriage Shines quite like you shine within

Verse 2

Somebody's balloon keeps drifting Bumping the roof with a squeak You catch it without even trying And that's the trick we all seek

Chorus

Elsie, tonight's for you Streetlights catching your grin Nobody else in this carriage Shines quite like you shine within

Bridge

Another year, another door We're glad to walk it with you Whatever waits past this evening We're staying close, right beside you

Chorus

Elsie, tonight's for you Streetlights catching your grin Nobody else in this carriage Shines quite like you shine within

Outro

Bags forgotten on the floor We're glad we came out for you

Verse 1

Leaves keep falling on the table Yellow more than we are able Your mug's warm against your hand I could sit here, understand

Pre-chorus

Nothing here is asking much Just your voice and just this touch I could stay for one more round

Chorus

Elsie, this is all I need Just this bench and just this leaf You beside me, tea gone cold Elsie, that's worth more than gold

Verse 2

Wind is moving through the garden Both our mugs have lost their warm Still you haven't moved an inch I don't want this hour to end

Chorus

Elsie, this is all I need Just this bench and just this leaf You beside me, tea gone cold Elsie, that's worth more than gold

Bridge

No one's watching, no one's near Just the two of us right here I keep learning what you're worth Sitting still on all this earth

Chorus

Elsie, this is all I need Just this bench and just this leaf You beside me, tea gone cold Elsie, that's worth more than gold

Outro

Leaves will bury both our mugs I'll still be right here with you

Verse 1

Your hand found mine by chance reaching for the same old book two strangers to the shelf but something in that look

Pre-chorus

Nothing planned, nothing said just fingers where the pages start and something quiet moved

Chorus

Elsie, that was all it took a touch too small to name now you're the one I reach for Elsie, you're not the same

Verse 2

Years could pass and shelves could change and books could fall from view but I would know your hand in any room, by you

Pre-chorus

Nothing planned, nothing said just fingers where the pages start and something quiet moved

Chorus

Elsie, that was all it took a touch too small to name now you're the one I reach for Elsie, you're not the same

Bridge

Some loves come with thunder mine came soft as turning pages you were just there beside me and you stayed through all the ages

Chorus

Elsie, that was all it took a touch too small to name now you're the one I reach for Elsie, you're not the same

Outro

Somewhere there's a shelf still standing and my hand still finds your own

Verse 1

Rain came down and soaked me through I left my footprints on the mat You never once made a fuss You just handed me a towel like that

Pre-chorus

You could have said I tracked it in You could have sighed and turned away But you just laughed and pulled me close

Chorus

Elsie, you make the storm feel small Nothing with you is ever messy Even soaked, I'm not scared to fall There's no place safer, Elsie

Verse 2

Some nights I come home wrung right out Nothing left to give or say You don't ask me to explain You just make the shaking go away

Bridge

Every door I've ever shut Opens easy when it's you No need to wipe my feet at all You take me dripping, through and through

Chorus

Elsie, you make the storm feel small Nothing with you is ever messy Even soaked, I'm not scared to fall There's no place safer, Elsie

Outro

Let the rain keep coming down My shoes can dry right where they are

Verse 1

Raindrops slide down slowly on the dark and quiet glass warm beside the radiator, you are curled up small nothing out there in the night can reach you here at last you are the softest, safest thing of all

Pre-chorus

Let the wind knock gently, it can't come inside the room is warm around you, the world is shut out tight close your eyes a little, let the hours glide

Chorus

Elsie, Elsie, the rain can fall all night you are held here warmly, wrapped in golden light nothing cold can find you, nothing dims your glow sleep now, Elsie, drift where the soft winds go

Verse 2

The glass is cool and misty but your blanket holds the heat every little shiver melts before it comes too near you don't have to listen to the raindrops or the street only to the quiet breathing you can hear

Bridge

Somewhere past the window the whole wide world spins slow but here it's only you and the candle's gentle glow

Chorus

Elsie, Elsie, the rain can fall all night you are held here warmly, wrapped in golden light nothing cold can find you, nothing dims your glow sleep now, Elsie, drift where the soft winds go

Outro

The rain still slides down slowly past the warm and glowing pane and you sleep on inside it, far away from any rain

Verse 1

Wool fringe trails so softly down across this quiet knee tonight Every thread has settled here to keep you warm and hold you tight Nothing in this room can reach you now Sleep is close and dimming out the light

Pre-chorus

Your breathing slows to match the hush that's falling all around Fingers curl around the edge of something soft and safely bound So let the evening carry you along

Chorus

Elsie, you are held here, you are warm here, you are known Nothing in the dark tonight will ever leave you on your own Kelsie skies could never keep this steady Elsie, close your eyes now, you are home

Verse 2

Somewhere past the window all the lights are going low and slow Here the only sound you need is one soft heartbeat you already know You don't have to hold on to a single thing Just let the quiet wrap you and let go

Chorus

Elsie, you are held here, you are warm here, you are known Nothing in the dark tonight will ever leave you on your own Kelsie skies could never keep this steady Elsie, close your eyes now, you are home

Bridge

Rest your head where all the softness gathers, deep and slow Nobody will let this warmth around you go

Chorus

Elsie, you are held here, you are warm here, you are known Nothing in the dark tonight will ever leave you on your own Kelsie skies could never keep this steady Elsie, close your eyes now, you are home

Outro

Wool fringe rests so quietly now across this steady knee Sleep now, little one, for you are everything to me

Verse 1

A far yellow light slides slow across the wall tonight It passes so gently over the glass and then it's gone The dark holds this room like something warm and kind And nothing can touch you here before the dawn

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes now, let the quiet carry you down The whole tired world is folding itself to rest And every small sound is turning into hush

Chorus

Elsie, the night is only holding you close Nothing will wake you, nothing will ask you to stay awake Elsie, you're wrapped in every soft thing I know Sleep now, sleep deep, for your own sweet sake

Verse 2

The light on the wall moves slower than any clock It doesn't need you awake to keep its far off place You can let go of the day, it's already done There's nothing waiting out there but the dark's soft face

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes now, let the quiet carry you down The whole tired world is folding itself to rest And every small sound is turning into hush

Chorus

Elsie, the night is only holding you close Nothing will wake you, nothing will ask you to stay awake Elsie, you're wrapped in every soft thing I know Sleep now, sleep deep, for your own sweet sake

Bridge

However far that small light travels on its way It only ever passes, it was never meant to stay You are the one thing steady in this whole dim room

Chorus

Elsie, the night is only holding you close Nothing will wake you, nothing will ask you to stay awake Elsie, you're wrapped in every soft thing I know Sleep now, sleep deep, for your own sweet sake

Outro

The light has gone from the wall and left it dark and still And you are held here softly, safe from any harm