Songs for Frankie

Verse 1

The caravan was shaking in the wind Cups lined up like we had sinned Somebody laughed and somebody spilled But you kept pouring till the night was filled

Pre-chorus

Now the whole place leans your way Every voice has things to say So here it comes, don't run away

Chorus

Frankie, Frankie, lift your cup We're raising every glass right up Frankie, you're the reason here So let the whole room give a cheer

Verse 2

The counter rattled, so did we Nothing steady, nothing free But you stood grinning, sure and true And somehow that held the whole thing through

Pre-chorus

Now the whole place leans your way Every voice has things to say So here it comes, don't run away

Chorus

Frankie, Frankie, lift your cup We're raising every glass right up Frankie, you're the reason here So let the whole room give a cheer

Bridge

Another year, another spin Look how far you've carried us in Whatever shakes, whatever bends You're still the one who gathers friends

Chorus

Frankie, Frankie, lift your cup We're raising every glass right up Frankie, you're the reason here So let the whole room give a cheer

Outro

The cups are empty, the night grows late Here's to you, Frankie, another great

Verse 1

Wooden crate stacked up with apples Candles pushed in, crooked and stubborn Nobody's lit them yet We're all just waiting on you to arrive

Chorus

Frankie, light the room up now We've been saving all our sparks somehow Every candle's leaning your way Frankie, we're so glad you're around

Verse 2

You walk in and the kitchen tilts Everyone starts talking louder Someone grabs a match, quick Because the whole night's been waiting on you

Pre-chorus

Count the candles, lose the number Doesn't matter, we're not counting We just want to see you glow

Chorus

Frankie, light the room up now We've been saving all our sparks somehow Every candle's leaning your way Frankie, we're so glad you're around

Bridge

Even the apples seem to know Something good is standing here Every year we build this small fire Just to watch it find your face

Chorus

Frankie, light the room up now We've been saving all our sparks somehow Every candle's leaning your way Frankie, we're so glad you're around

Outro

The crate still smells of apples Frankie, blow it out, make it last

Verse 1

Cans stacked up in a pyramid Balanced steady, never falling down You built that with your own two hands Same way you hold this whole town

Pre-chorus

Grease on your knuckles, grin on your face You fix what's broken, you find the way So light the candles, let's give you your day

Chorus

Frankie, Frankie, light up the room Nobody's steadier, nobody's better Frankie, we're singing it loud for you Happy birthday, our own go getter

Verse 2

You never once left a job half done You show up early, you stay till late Folks lean on you like an old porch swing You carry us all and you carry it straight

Bridge

Here's to the hands that never quit Here's to the heart that just keeps giving Raise up a glass, let's toast to it Another year of you, and living

Chorus

Frankie, Frankie, light up the room Nobody's steadier, nobody's better Frankie, we're singing it loud for you Happy birthday, our own go getter

Outro

Stack the cans up, one more year We're glad you're here, we're glad you're here

Verse 1

Two sleeves resting on the blotter Nothing said, and nothing ought to You just breathe there next to me Calm as green under lamplight water

Pre-chorus

I never needed the grand gesture Just this table, just this hour Just you, close enough to reach

Chorus

Frankie, this is all I'm after Quiet company, easy laughter No need to chase what's already here You're the one my heart moves slower for

Verse 2

Ink dries slow when you're beside me Time forgets to hurry lately You lean in without a word And somehow that's enough to steady me

Chorus

Frankie, this is all I'm after Quiet company, easy laughter No need to chase what's already here You're the one my heart moves slower for

Bridge

Some folks need the fireworks to feel it I just need your sleeve touching mine That's the whole of what I'm asking

Chorus

Frankie, this is all I'm after Quiet company, easy laughter No need to chase what's already here You're the one my heart moves slower for

Outro

Two sleeves resting on the blotter Still the safest place I know

Verse 1

The phone stopped ringing on the blanket and I didn't reach to check you laughed at something soft and small and I forgot the world could beckon

Pre-chorus

No message waiting could compare to how your voice sounds close and low I feel the pull before you speak

Chorus

Frankie, nothing outside this room could pull me half as far as you the whole loud world can wait till morning Frankie, I already knew

Verse 2

You reached across and turned the lamp down said the dark was kinder anyway I watched you settle into quiet and felt my whole chest sway

Bridge

Let the hours go uncounted let the messages pile high nothing they could ever tell me matters more than you close by

Chorus

Frankie, nothing outside this room could pull me half as far as you the whole loud world can wait till morning Frankie, I already knew

Outro

That phone's still lying face down there and I still haven't moved

Verse 1

The glass has clouded over white We made this room our own tonight Lights below turn soft and small You matter more than any of it all

Pre-chorus

I wipe a circle with my hand Try to see the harbour stand But my eyes keep drifting back to you

Chorus

Frankie, you're the warmth I'm chasing Every window fogs from feeling Frankie, nothing needs explaining When you're near, the room stops reeling

Verse 2

The boats out there are tiny lights Small as matches, blinking bright But you're the thing that fills this space I'd know you blind, I'd know your trace

Pre-chorus

I wipe a circle with my hand Try to see the harbour stand But my eyes keep drifting back to you

Chorus

Frankie, you're the warmth I'm chasing Every window fogs from feeling Frankie, nothing needs explaining When you're near, the room stops reeling

Bridge

Let the glass stay clouded grey I don't need the view to stay You're the only thing in focus here Steady while the night gets clear

Chorus

Frankie, you're the warmth I'm chasing Every window fogs from feeling Frankie, nothing needs explaining When you're near, the room stops reeling

Outro

The glass will clear by morning light But you're the warmth I hold at night

Verse 1

A little moth is tapping soft against the yellow light Its wings are slower now than they were before Everything is settling into the folds of night And you are the one I keep watching for

Pre-chorus

The lamp is turning gold and low and gentle on the wall Your breathing finds a rhythm sweet and slow And that is all it takes to hush the whole world small

Chorus

Frankie, the light is dim and kind above your head Nothing tonight will ask you to be strong Frankie, I'll stay until the last soft word is said And hum you through the dark with this small song

Verse 2

The moth has folded up against the warm glass now Its wings have stilled the way your hands have stilled You don't need to know the how or ask me why or how The quiet in this room is already fulfilled

Pre-chorus

The lamp is turning gold and low and gentle on the wall Your breathing finds a rhythm sweet and slow And that is all it takes to hush the whole world small

Chorus

Frankie, the light is dim and kind above your head Nothing tonight will ask you to be strong Frankie, I'll stay until the last soft word is said And hum you through the dark with this small song

Bridge

Sleep now, there is nowhere else you need to be Just this small room, this glow, this steady beat You are held so gently, you are held so easily Safe as wings that finally found somewhere to rest

Chorus

Frankie, the light is dim and kind above your head Nothing tonight will ask you to be strong Frankie, I'll stay until the last soft word is said And hum you through the dark with this small song

Outro

The moth has gone to sleep against the quiet yellow shade And you are sleeping too, my Frankie, safe and slow

Verse 1

A square of amber light lies still along the floor tonight You watch it fade the way the day breathes out its final light Nothing in this house is moving now but you Sleep is drifting closer, soft and slow and right

Pre-chorus

Somewhere past the window all the noise has learned to rest Your small hands have folded, tucked in close against your chest So let the quiet carry what the day could not

Chorus

Frankie, hush now, let the evening hold you tight Close your eyes, the house is warm, the world is out of sight Frankie, nothing here can reach you, nothing dares Sleep is just the darkness wrapping gently round the light

Verse 2

Down the steps the amber square has slowly turned to grey Still you keep its warmth like something tucked away to stay Every worry of the day has had its say and gone There is nothing left for you to carry into grey

Pre-chorus

Somewhere past the window all the noise has learned to rest Your small hands have folded, tucked in close against your chest So let the quiet carry what the day could not

Chorus

Frankie, hush now, let the evening hold you tight Close your eyes, the house is warm, the world is out of sight Frankie, nothing here can reach you, nothing dares Sleep is just the darkness wrapping gently round the light

Bridge

No lamp is needed where you're going now Only breath, only warmth, only this

Chorus

Frankie, hush now, let the evening hold you tight Close your eyes, the house is warm, the world is out of sight Frankie, nothing here can reach you, nothing dares Sleep is just the darkness wrapping gently round the light

Outro

Somewhere the steps are cool and grey and waiting for the sun Rest now, the amber will be there when morning comes

Verse 1

Drops are sliding slowly down the dark and quiet glass Warm little heater ticking soft to let the evening pass You are curled up cosy where the lamplight barely glows Nothing in this room tonight but hush and how it slows

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes now, let the ticking be your gentle guide Every drop that falls outside is turning into tide Sleep is coming closer, waiting warm here by your side

Chorus

Frankie, hush now, let the rain sing soft and low Nothing in the dark tonight will come to touch you, Frankie, no You are held here, warm and certain, safe from every storm Sleep will keep you, Frankie, wrapped in quiet and in warm

Verse 2

Watch the little rivers race each other down the pane Nothing in their hurry ever needs to feel like pain You are still and steady while the whole world drifts and blurs Rest is yours to keep tonight, no reaching, nothing stirs

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes now, let the ticking be your gentle guide Every drop that falls outside is turning into tide Sleep is coming closer, waiting warm here by your side

Chorus

Frankie, hush now, let the rain sing soft and low Nothing in the dark tonight will come to touch you, Frankie, no You are held here, warm and certain, safe from every storm Sleep will keep you, Frankie, wrapped in quiet and in warm

Bridge

Somewhere past the glass the whole wide night is turning slow You need never chase it, never rush to watch it go Rest inside this small and steady, ticking, breathing room

Chorus

Frankie, hush now, let the rain sing soft and low Nothing in the dark tonight will come to touch you, Frankie, no You are held here, warm and certain, safe from every storm Sleep will keep you, Frankie, wrapped in quiet and in warm

Outro

Let the drops go sliding on while you are far away in sleep Frankie, you are kept here, safe and warm and yours to keep