Songs for Iris

Verse 1

Grass is wet beneath our feet Plates are stacked, the day's complete Somebody grab the candles quick You make this whole thing sweet

Pre-chorus

Water's spinning, catching light Everybody's here tonight So let the horns get this one right

Chorus

Iris, you're the reason we came Nobody else could light this flame Sprinkler's turning, so is the sky Iris, say your beautiful name

Verse 2

Cake is leaning, icing's thick Somebody's already grabbed a stick You laugh loud above it all That laugh could do the trick

Chorus

Iris, you're the reason we came Nobody else could light this flame Sprinkler's turning, so is the sky Iris, say your beautiful name

Bridge

Every year we get to keep you That's the gift, plain and true Blow so hard the candles run Then we'll start the song again for you

Chorus

Iris, you're the reason we came Nobody else could light this flame Sprinkler's turning, so is the sky Iris, say your beautiful name

Outro

Grass still spinning, plates still stacked Iris, glad you came like that

Verse 1

You track mud clean across the floor and nobody minds it anymore the tomatoes lean toward where you've been that's the kind of warmth you bring

Pre-chorus

So light the candles, pour the wine we've been counting down the time for the one line that says it right

Chorus

Iris, put your boots up on the step Iris, you're the best thing that we've kept another year has ripened, gold and true every single one was better next to you

Verse 2

You leave the gate hooked, never shut like you knew we'd all show up the vines don't care who gets the praise but we do, and we're raising ours today

Chorus

Iris, put your boots up on the step Iris, you're the best thing that we've kept another year has ripened, gold and true every single one was better next to you

Bridge

Here's to the dirt beneath your nails to showing up when courage fails we don't need the perfect scene we just need you, exactly as you've been

Chorus

Iris, put your boots up on the step Iris, you're the best thing that we've kept another year has ripened, gold and true every single one was better next to you

Outro

Leave the boots out by the door we'll need them again once more

Verse 1

Windows fogging, breath on glass You reach over, wipe it clear Whatever's coming, whatever's next You always face it, standing near

Pre-chorus

The wipers push the dark away Headlights catching drops of rain We're pulling closer, come what may

Chorus

Iris, you're the light we drive toward No storm can dim your fire Every road feels short with you Iris, you're who we admire

Verse 2

Steam keeps rising off our cups You laugh and no one minds the cold Somehow you make the night feel warm Somehow you never once look old

Bridge

Blow the candles, make it bright Let the whole room learn your name tonight

Chorus

Iris, you're the light we drive toward No storm can dim your fire Every road feels short with you Iris, you're who we admire

Outro

Wipers still, the glass runs clear Here's to you, another year

Verse 1

Two coats on one green hook by the door where the coins go in I hung mine right beside yours before I knew where we'd been

Pre-chorus

It's such a small kind of proof but I keep needing it still something plain that says we're close

Chorus

Iris, you're the warm in my sleeve the weight I feel when you're gone Iris, I'd know your coat blind just by how it hangs on

Verse 2

You always take the left side like the hook was built for two I never asked you to you just knew, and that was true

Pre-chorus

It's such a small kind of proof but I keep needing it still something plain that says we're close

Chorus

Iris, you're the warm in my sleeve the weight I feel when you're gone Iris, I'd know your coat blind just by how it hangs on

Bridge

Some loves need a grand design mine just needs one iron hook and you, stood close, still choosing me

Chorus

Iris, you're the warm in my sleeve the weight I feel when you're gone Iris, I'd know your coat blind just by how it hangs on

Outro

Two coats, one hook, still holding that's all I need you to know

Verse 1

Footprints filled with foam tonight Gone before I turned around You stayed when the tide came right Both feet planted, steady ground

Chorus

Iris, you're the knot that holds Even when the sea gets its way Something in you never folds Iris, you were built to stay

Verse 2

Waves erase what we just made Every mark we leave behind Your hand in mine has never strayed Steady rope, a steady mind

Pre-chorus

Everything soft gets washed away Salt and foam take what they can Except the one thing built to stay

Chorus

Iris, you're the knot that holds Even when the sea gets its way Something in you never folds Iris, you were built to stay

Bridge

Let the water take the sand I'm not afraid of losing ground Long as there's a rope, a hand Long as you are still around

Chorus

Iris, you're the knot that holds Even when the sea gets its way Something in you never folds Iris, you were built to stay

Outro

Let the footprints fill with foam I found the rope, I found my home

Verse 1

Two cups sit on the radiator warming slow while the bulb flickers on and off nobody said this was romantic but I keep watching you, not the light

Pre-chorus

You never asked for anything grand just stayed while the tea went cold and I'm still here, still leaning in

Chorus

Iris, you make the small hours kind you're the calm I didn't know I'd find steady as the warmth beneath the cups Iris, I'm glad that you're mine

Verse 2

The light keeps stuttering above us and you laugh like it's nothing at all I'd stand in this flickering kitchen forever just to watch that laugh again

Chorus

Iris, you make the small hours kind you're the calm I didn't know I'd find steady as the warmth beneath the cups Iris, I'm glad that you're mine

Bridge

No candles, no grand design just two cups going cold and somehow that says everything I've been too shy to hold

Chorus

Iris, you make the small hours kind you're the calm I didn't know I'd find steady as the warmth beneath the cups Iris, I'm glad that you're mine

Outro

The bulb still flickers, faithful and worn and you're the warmth I keep coming home to

Verse 1

A little woollen sock hangs warm beside the door holding all the heat that this quiet room can hold Somewhere down the hall the house is breathing slow and you are why I keep this small light burning for

Pre-chorus

The night pulls its blanket soft across the sill every worry of the day is folding still so close your eyes now, let your breathing find the tune

Chorus

Iris, the whole dark house is gentle around you nothing tonight will come to trouble or hound you Sleep is a river and you're the calm it found rest easy, Iris, till the morning comes to crown you

Verse 2

Somebody left that sock to dry beside the door thinking of cold feet before the day was through Just like that sock was kept for when you'd need it this whole house waits tonight simply for you

Bridge

Let every small and worn out thing find its rest you are the warmest thing this house has ever pressed close

Chorus

Iris, the whole dark house is gentle around you nothing tonight will come to trouble or hound you Sleep is a river and you're the calm it found rest easy, Iris, till the morning comes to crown you

Outro

The sock still hangs there warm beside the open door and you sleep on, held safe, needing nothing more

Verse 1

The wool fringe drifts across the floor where the old cat lies curled and everything has gone as still as the quietest hour in the world I watch the last thread settle soft, no reason left to roam and I think of you asleep, the warmest thing in this whole home

Pre-chorus

The house breathes slow, the lamp burns low, the night has grown so kind every corner of this room has settled into you and me so close your eyes, my dear one, and leave the waking day behind

Chorus

Iris, the dark is only softness gathered near nothing tonight will ask you to be anything but here Sleep on, Iris, wrapped in all this quiet holds you are the warmest story that this house has ever told

Verse 2

A cat can sleep for hours in a stripe of fading light never once afraid the morning won't arrive on time and you can rest the same way, loosened from the tight held here safe and certain as the oldest lullaby's rhyme

Chorus

Iris, the dark is only softness gathered near nothing tonight will ask you to be anything but here Sleep on, Iris, wrapped in all this quiet holds you are the warmest story that this house has ever told

Bridge

Let your small hands loosen, let your breathing find its place there is nowhere else you're needed but this soft and sleepy space

Chorus

Iris, the dark is only softness gathered near nothing tonight will ask you to be anything but here Sleep on, Iris, wrapped in all this quiet holds you are the warmest story that this house has ever told

Outro

The fringe lies still, the cat sleeps on, the floor holds all its heat and you are held the same way now, so drift, and rest, and sleep

Verse 1

The lamp outside is painting gold across your patterned rug and you are warm beneath the blankets, held and safe and snug the curtains made of wool are hanging still without a sound this whole small room is quiet now, and you are safely found

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes, the day is folding softly out of sight nothing here can reach you now, you're wrapped in gentle light let the hush come nearer, let it carry you tonight

Chorus

Sleep now, Iris, let the quiet hold you like a friend you are loved beyond the counting, loved without an end rest here, Iris, in the gold that falls across the floor you are safe as you have ever been, and safe forevermore

Verse 2

Somewhere past the window, all the busy world runs on but here the light stays gentle till the darkness comes and goes you don't need to know the hour or the reason why it's late just let the warm glow keep you while the whole night learns to wait

Bridge

However far you travel when the morning comes to call this room will keep its glow for you, small and warm and true nothing in the dark tonight can touch you here at all

Chorus

Sleep now, Iris, let the quiet hold you like a friend you are loved beyond the counting, loved without an end rest here, Iris, in the gold that falls across the floor you are safe as you have ever been, and safe forevermore

Outro

The lamp will keep its watch till morning finds the patterned rug sleep on now, you are held, you are wanted, you are loved