Songs for Frances

Verse 1

Fog on the glass by the door Coats on the pegs, boots on the floor Someone comes home, the whole house cheers Frances arrives, and away go the years

Pre-chorus

We heard the gate, we heard your song We've had this candle burning long Come in from the cold, where you belong

Chorus

Frances, Frances, give us your hand Nobody dances quite like you can Frances, Frances, look at these chances Life gave us you, and we know our romances

Verse 2

Every year the same warm light Every year you make it right Steam on the window, laughter inside There's no closed door you can't open wide

Pre-chorus

We heard the gate, we heard your song We've had this candle burning long Come in from the cold, where you belong

Chorus

Frances, Frances, give us your hand Nobody dances quite like you can Frances, Frances, look at these chances Life gave us you, and we know our romances

Bridge

Raise your glass and stamp your feet Nobody here can keep the beat Like the one who walked through that door And made this house what it's for

Chorus

Frances, Frances, give us your hand Nobody dances quite like you can Frances, Frances, look at these chances Life gave us you, and we know our romances

Outro

The glass has cleared, the coats hang still We're glad you're home, and always will

Verse 1

Wheels are turning, brown and bright Rolling past the green and grey You go chasing all the light Bringing colour to the day

Pre-chorus

Every mile you make it sing Every corner, something new We can feel the party building

Chorus

Frances, this is your day now Give this moment all your chances Watch the whole room light up somehow Dancing here for Frances, Frances

Verse 2

Moss grows soft on old brick stone Yet you never slow your pace You were never meant to sit alone Joy just follows in your space

Bridge

Spin it loud and spin it true Every year still finds you shining We are lucky knowing you Nothing dims what you keep climbing

Chorus

Frances, this is your day now Give this moment all your chances Watch the whole room light up somehow Dancing here for Frances, Frances

Outro

Wheels keep turning, on you go Bridges hold you, we just know

Verse 1

Wet leaves hang on rusted wire Caught beside the old stone path Even rust can catch the light When you walk by, it laughs

Pre-chorus

Something plain turns golden Every time you're near So raise your cup and holler

Chorus

Frances, you were born for chances Born to turn the grey to gold Twirl us through a hundred dances Frances, never growing old

Verse 2

Nobody asked that mesh to shine Nobody asked the leaves to stay But there they hung and caught the sun The way you do today

Pre-chorus

Something plain turns golden Every time you're near So raise your cup and holler

Chorus

Frances, you were born for chances Born to turn the grey to gold Twirl us through a hundred dances Frances, never growing old

Bridge

Every year you spin around again Brighter than the last one, friend We'll sing it loud so you believe it Nothing rusty where you've been

Chorus

Frances, you were born for chances Born to turn the grey to gold Twirl us through a hundred dances Frances, never growing old

Outro

Wet leaves still shine on old wire Because you walked that way

Verse 1

Baskets slide down the metal rollers you're reading labels, taking your time I forget every single thing I needed just standing here waiting on your smile

Pre-chorus

Nothing here is meant to be romantic the tannoy hums, the tiles are grey but you turn round and ask me something

Chorus

Frances, you don't know what you're doing this ordinary hour feels like chances the whole month narrows down to this one minute I'd know you blind among a hundred glances

Verse 2

You laugh at something on the shelf hold it up like it's a prize I've loved you through a thousand small errands and never once got used to your eyes

Chorus

Frances, you don't know what you're doing this ordinary hour feels like chances the whole month narrows down to this one minute I'd know you blind among a hundred glances

Bridge

Doesn't matter where we end up standing car park, kitchen, some cold street every plain place turns into something the second that you're next to me

Chorus

Frances, you don't know what you're doing this ordinary hour feels like chances the whole month narrows down to this one minute I'd know you blind among a hundred glances

Outro

The baskets keep on sliding past us I'm still right here, watching you

Verse 1

Grass gone gold against the stop Bent so far it looks to drop But it holds through every gale Same as you when things turn frail

Chorus

Frances, you're the one that stays Steady through my roughest days Other names might get their chances No one holds me like Frances

Verse 2

Wind can push and wind can shove Nothing shakes this kind of love You don't bend to break in two You just bend and still stay true

Pre-chorus

I've seen soft things turn out strong I've been wrong, then proved wrong And you're the truth I'm leaning on

Chorus

Frances, you're the one that stays Steady through my roughest days Other names might get their chances No one holds me like Frances

Bridge

Some hearts need the sun to shine Mine just needs you close to mine Quiet love can run this deep Simple things are what I keep

Chorus

Frances, you're the one that stays Steady through my roughest days Other names might get their chances No one holds me like Frances

Outro

Grass still leans against that stone Bent, unbroken, holding on

Verse 1

Grey slate chips crunch soft below us You take the slope like it don't trouble you I watch the way you find your footing Steady is the thing I love about us

Chorus

Frances, you're the best of all my chances Every step with you just steadies me Something plain and something true Frances, you're the one my whole heart dances

Verse 2

You laugh when the loose stones slide I reach out and you take my hand Nothing fancy in the way we climb Just two boots and a steady plan

Pre-chorus

Some folks chase the big romances I just want the quiet kind So hold on tight, we're near the top now

Chorus

Frances, you're the best of all my chances Every step with you just steadies me Something plain and something true Frances, you're the one my whole heart dances

Bridge

No need for a grander view Your glances say more than words could say I'll walk this same slope every year As long as you're the one I'm walking with

Chorus

Frances, you're the best of all my chances Every step with you just steadies me Something plain and something true Frances, you're the one my whole heart dances

Outro

Grey slate still crunching soft below That sound means you're still here, still close

Verse 1

Somewhere a kettle sighs out a curl of soft white steam and water falls slow from the tap like the end of a dream the house settles down into shadow and hush and heat and everything gentle tonight is folded round your sleep

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes now, let the warm hours pass you by let the drip and the hush be the whole of the sky hold on to nothing but how safe you are right now

Chorus

Frances, Frances, sleep is where you belong the night was always going to sing you this song you are held here so gently, you are held here so near Frances, there is nothing in the dark to fear

Verse 2

The steam climbs slow and quiet like it's tiptoeing to bed while the last little drop of water hums against the thread of silence that wraps softly round the corners of the room and you are the warmest thing inside this whole quiet moon

Bridge

Let every worry drift the way the steam drifts and it goes let every small sound settle like water when it slows

Chorus

Frances, Frances, sleep is where you belong the night was always going to sing you this song you are held here so gently, you are held here so near Frances, there is nothing in the dark to fear

Outro

The tap falls quiet now, the steam has gone to rest and you are held here softly, you are held here, you are blessed

Verse 1

Little dust motes are turning slow through the pale evening light Drifting soft over corners where the day starts to fade You are held in this quiet as the hush gathers tight I will stay here beside you till the last light has stayed

Pre-chorus

The house is breathing gently, every sound turning small Your eyes are getting heavy, sinking soft as they fall Let the dark come in kindly, it is answering your call

Chorus

Frances, the night is folding round you slow Nothing can reach you, nothing needs to know You are the calm that makes the whole house glow Sleep now, my Frances, let the soft dark grow

Verse 2

The ceiling holds its shadows like they're keeping you good company Every little breath you take is steady as a tide There is nowhere safer than this small and drowsy sea I will keep the watch tonight with you curled up at my side

Chorus

Frances, the night is folding round you slow Nothing can reach you, nothing needs to know You are the calm that makes the whole house glow Sleep now, my Frances, let the soft dark grow

Bridge

Somewhere far off the world keeps turning on without you But here in this room it is only breath and light You never have to carry anything tonight

Chorus

Frances, the night is folding round you slow Nothing can reach you, nothing needs to know You are the calm that makes the whole house glow Sleep now, my Frances, let the soft dark grow

Outro

The light has gone to rest now, soft as breath along the wall And you are safe inside it, the gentlest thing of all

Verse 1

The fringe on my knee lies so still in the lamplight Your breathing has settled to something so slight Worn denim holds warm where you're curled up and small Everything gentle is gathered here right

Chorus

Frances, the night has folded its hands around you Every soft shadow is holding you too Nothing can reach you, nothing will chase your dreaming Frances, sleep deep, love has found you

Verse 2

The wool hangs quiet, not a thread of it stirring Your small weight settles like snow that's not hurrying Nothing in this room is asking a thing of you Only my arms, only stillness occurring

Pre-chorus

Somewhere a clock is letting the hours go slow Somewhere the dark is learning how gently to flow And here you are held while the whole house breathes low

Chorus

Frances, the night has folded its hands around you Every soft shadow is holding you too Nothing can reach you, nothing will chase your dreaming Frances, sleep deep, love has found you

Bridge

No need to open your eyes to know that you're treasured However this day was, however it measured You are the calm that this whole house leans into

Chorus

Frances, the night has folded its hands around you Every soft shadow is holding you too Nothing can reach you, nothing will chase your dreaming Frances, sleep deep, love has found you

Outro

The fringe will still hang when the morning comes stealing You'll wake to this same quiet, held and unpeeling