Songs for Hilda

Verse 1

Suitcases lined up in a row Waiting on a train that's slow But the platform lights up bright The minute that you're in the show

Chorus

Hilda, you make the whole room glow Every station knows your name, oh You're wilder than the tickets say Hilda, you're never, ever slow

Verse 2

The speakers crackle overhead Names and numbers, half unsaid But we don't need the noise at all When you walk in, the day turns gold

Pre-chorus

Somebody's calling out the time Somebody's counting down the line But we're just waiting here for you

Chorus

Hilda, you make the whole room glow Every station knows your name, oh You're wilder than the tickets say Hilda, you're never, ever slow

Bridge

No ticket needed, you're the prize No clock can hurry your goodbyes We'd wait all day to see you land Right here, where the whole world sighs

Chorus

Hilda, you make the whole room glow Every station knows your name, oh You're wilder than the tickets say Hilda, you're never, ever slow

Outro

Let every suitcase stay right here Because you've landed, and we're near

Verse 1

Pigeons fight for crumbs on the ground Down by the rusted iron slats You laugh and toss another crust round Kinder than most, and that's a fact

Pre-chorus

Candles waiting, the room's gone still Everybody here feels the thrill So let it out, we're ready to shout

Chorus

Hilda, Hilda, light up the room Nobody shines quite like you can Some folks grow soft, you just grow wilder Happiest birthday to you, Hilda

Verse 2

You feed the birds and you feed us too Always giving more than you take We count ourselves lucky knowing you Every year sweeter, like good cake

Bridge

Here's to the years still coming your way Here's to the joy you hand out free We're raising a glass to your day Grateful as anyone could be

Chorus

Hilda, Hilda, light up the room Nobody shines quite like you can Some folks grow soft, you just grow wilder Happiest birthday to you, Hilda

Outro

The crusts are gone, the pigeons scatter You stay with us, that's all that matters

Verse 1

Empty flour tin by the door You always give a little more Mugs stacked up for who might come You saved a chair for everyone

Pre-chorus

You never needed much to give You just kept room for all of us Tonight we're raising every cup

Chorus

Hilda, light the candles wilder Fill the room until it's fuller You're the warmth that we run milder Hilda, nothing here feels colder

Verse 2

You knew the kettle's every sound You kept the good cups turned right round Whoever came, you made them stay You turned a Tuesday into May

Pre-chorus

You never needed much to give You just kept room for all of us Tonight we're raising every cup

Chorus

Hilda, light the candles wilder Fill the room until it's fuller You're the warmth that we run milder Hilda, nothing here feels colder

Bridge

Blow them out and make the wish However big, however small We'll fill the tin, we'll fill the dish You've always given us it all

Chorus

Hilda, light the candles wilder Fill the room until it's fuller You're the warmth that we run milder Hilda, nothing here feels colder

Outro

The mugs are waiting by the flour Here's to you this happy hour

Verse 1

The vinegar shaker rattles on the mat Nothing fancy about where we're at But I keep looking up at you Steady under something small like that

Pre-chorus

You don't need the world to notice You just need someone who knows And I'm leaning closer now

Chorus

Hilda, you're the calm I chose Something honest, something that just grows Not the wildest thing I've found But wilder, Hilda, than anyone else knows

Verse 2

We've said nothing much in an hour Just the shaker and its small power Rattling soft between our hands And you, still here, still ours

Chorus

Hilda, you're the calm I chose Something honest, something that just grows Not the wildest thing I've found But wilder, Hilda, than anyone else knows

Bridge

I've had louder, I've had brighter I never needed either one You made the ordinary lighter Just by staying when it's done

Chorus

Hilda, you're the calm I chose Something honest, something that just grows Not the wildest thing I've found But wilder, Hilda, than anyone else knows

Outro

The shaker's still there, rattling on Long after the rest is gone

Verse 1

Frost was cracking beneath my boots Out past the fence and tangled roots I kept walking, cold to the bone Just to tell you, you're not alone

Pre-chorus

I've crossed colder ground than this Just to reach you, just for this So hold on, there's more to say

Chorus

Hilda, you're the fire I walk to Steady as the ground I'm standing on Hilda, through the frost and through the wilder Nights, you're the one I lean upon

Verse 2

The wire out there is rusted through But nothing rusts what's between us two Winters come and winters go You're the warmth beneath the snow

Pre-chorus

I've crossed colder ground than this Just to reach you, just for this So hold on, there's more to say

Chorus

Hilda, you're the fire I walk to Steady as the ground I'm standing on Hilda, through the frost and through the wilder Nights, you're the one I lean upon

Bridge

Let the ground stay hard and grey Doesn't matter, come what may You're the reason I don't turn back Even on the darkest track

Chorus

Hilda, you're the fire I walk to Steady as the ground I'm standing on Hilda, through the frost and through the wilder Nights, you're the one I lean upon

Outro

The frost still cracks beneath my boots But I keep walking, straight to you

Verse 1

Fog sits heavy on the road tonight but I know just where you are Yellow beams cut through the grey and you're closer than the furthest star

Chorus

Hilda, you're the light I drive toward when the whole world turns to grey No storm ever made me wilder than the thought of losing you one day

Verse 2

Glass shelter standing in the mist holds its ground and doesn't bend That's the kind of love you give steady, patient, without end

Pre-chorus

I've been slower, I've been milder learned to wait instead of chase Now I'm driving straight toward you

Chorus

Hilda, you're the light I drive toward when the whole world turns to grey No storm ever made me wilder than the thought of losing you one day

Bridge

Some nights the fog won't lift at all but you're the one thing I still see Every road I've ever taken somehow leads back to you and me

Chorus

Hilda, you're the light I drive toward when the whole world turns to grey No storm ever made me wilder than the thought of losing you one day

Outro

The fog will lift, the way it does and there you'll be, still holding the light

Verse 1

White linen lifts and settles slow across the open frame You breathe so quiet the whole wide house seems to hold still Nothing tonight will ever come to trouble you or claim you Sleep finds you gentle as the curtain finds the windowsill

Pre-chorus

Somewhere a clock is counting soft and losing all its hurry Your small hands loosen and the day slips out of them Hush now, the dark is only quiet wearing evening's colour

Chorus

Hilda, the night has come to hold you closer than a blanket Sleep like the calmest water, sleep like something mild You are the warmest light this house has ever kept lit Rest easy, Hilda, rest now, you sweet and steady child

Verse 2

The window breathes the linen out and draws it softly back again You are folded into evening like a letter no one sent Every worry of the day has wandered off to somewhere milder Your breathing is the only sound this whole room ever meant

Chorus

Hilda, the night has come to hold you closer than a blanket Sleep like the calmest water, sleep like something mild You are the warmest light this house has ever kept lit Rest easy, Hilda, rest now, you sweet and steady child

Bridge

Let the fabric drift and settle, let your eyelids do the same Nothing needs you wide awake, nothing calls your name

Chorus

Hilda, the night has come to hold you closer than a blanket Sleep like the calmest water, sleep like something mild You are the warmest light this house has ever kept lit Rest easy, Hilda, rest now, you sweet and steady child

Outro

Somewhere the linen settles still against the quiet frame You are held here safely, Hilda, sleeping, always the same

Verse 1

There is a strip of yellow light asleep beneath the door and it will keep its little watch until the morning comes your breathing slows, your small hands rest, you need to hold nothing more the house is quiet, the house is warm, and softly it hums

Pre-chorus

Nothing tonight can reach you here, nothing can pull you far the dark outside has lost its teeth beneath this gentle bar so let your eyes grow heavy now beneath the coming stars

Chorus

Hilda, the light is low and gold and steady by your bed rest now, the whole wide night is folded soft around your head Hilda, there is no need to keep one worried thought at all sleep now, and let the quiet be the only thing that falls

Verse 2

Somewhere a door is closed so gently that it barely made a sound and everything that loves you most is standing close around the world has shrunk to just this room, this blanket, this small mound you are the safest thing that ever settled on this ground

Chorus

Hilda, the light is low and gold and steady by your bed rest now, the whole wide night is folded soft around your head Hilda, there is no need to keep one worried thought at all sleep now, and let the quiet be the only thing that falls

Bridge

No shadow here would dare to move too near where you lie curled you are the warmest, softest thing in all this turning world

Chorus

Hilda, the light is low and gold and steady by your bed rest now, the whole wide night is folded soft around your head Hilda, there is no need to keep one worried thought at all sleep now, and let the quiet be the only thing that falls

Outro

That same soft strip of light will still be glowing when you wake and you'll be just as loved as every hour that it stayed awake

Verse 1

A small red glow is watching over you tonight Set against the cotton where the blue moons drift so light Nothing in this room will ever come to pull you wild You are held here safely, you are Hilda, sleepy child

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes now, let the day slip out of reach Every worry softens, there is nothing left to teach Just the hush of breathing while the dark begins to speak

Chorus

Hilda, hush now, let the quiet carry you along Nothing here can hurt you, nothing here was ever wrong Sleep is just a river and you're drifting safe and slow Hilda, you are cradled everywhere you go

Verse 2

Under blankets patterned soft with rivers, blue and mild Warmth is wrapped around you like it always has, my child Somewhere near your pillow that small light begins to fade Still it leaves behind the calm that all its glowing made

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes now, let the day slip out of reach Every worry softens, there is nothing left to teach Just the hush of breathing while the dark begins to speak

Chorus

Hilda, hush now, let the quiet carry you along Nothing here can hurt you, nothing here was ever wrong Sleep is just a river and you're drifting safe and slow Hilda, you are cradled everywhere you go

Bridge

Nothing needs to happen, nothing needs to stir You are so completely loved just breathing where you are Rest is just a shoreline pulling you in soft and slow

Chorus

Hilda, hush now, let the quiet carry you along Nothing here can hurt you, nothing here was ever wrong Sleep is just a river and you're drifting safe and slow Hilda, you are cradled everywhere you go

Outro

That small red light will keep its steady watch till dawn Sleep now, Hilda, you are safe here, you are held, you are home