Songs for Lilian

Verse 1

Paper plates went tumbling wild Over dunes and into blue Nothing there could hold them still That's the way we think of you

Pre-chorus

So lift the roof and clap it loud Let the whole wide room stand up We came here for a reason now

Chorus

Lilian, brilliant, that's the truth Born to shine and never dim One in a million, that is you Sing it loud and sing again

Verse 2

Tide comes in and takes the sand Nothing ever stays the same But you stand steady where you land Burning bright and calling name

Chorus

Lilian, brilliant, that's the truth Born to shine and never dim One in a million, that is you Sing it loud and sing again

Bridge

Somebody clap for the life you've made Somebody shout it clear and true Every year that you have stayed Makes the whole room love you more

Chorus

Lilian, brilliant, that's the truth Born to shine and never dim One in a million, that is you Sing it loud and sing again

Outro

Let the plates blow where they may We know exactly where you'll stay

Verse 1

Wrapper stuck against the wire long after the bell rang out you never left when things got quiet you're the reason we're still about

Chorus

Lilian, the room lights up one in a million, plain to see nobody argues, nobody doubts it Lilian, you're brilliant to me

Verse 2

Some things blow away by morning some things cling on through the rain you're the colour nothing faded you came back again and again

Pre-chorus

So we're lighting up the candles we're not holding back tonight this is where the noise gets started

Chorus

Lilian, the room lights up one in a million, plain to see nobody argues, nobody doubts it Lilian, you're brilliant to me

Bridge

Every year you get a little louder every year we cheer a little more that's not nothing, that's not ordinary that's a reason worth shouting for

Chorus

Lilian, the room lights up one in a million, plain to see nobody argues, nobody doubts it Lilian, you're brilliant to me

Outro

Long after the wrappers scatter you're the one still standing there

Verse 1

You said just grab a spoon Now the whole bench is a mess We are laughing under a sun that won't quit You started this, brilliant one

Pre-chorus

Sticky hands and the music rising Somebody's shouting your name from the grass We're all leaning in for

Chorus

Lilian, light up this yard One in a million, easy to spot You make the ordinary feel bigger Lilian, we're glad that you're ours

Verse 2

Ice cream running past your wrist You laugh and lick it off quick Nobody minds if the candles wait We're not done with this, not yet

Bridge

Every year gets a little louder Every year we love you harder

Chorus

Lilian, light up this yard One in a million, easy to spot You make the ordinary feel bigger Lilian, we're glad that you're ours

Outro

The bench still wears your mark tonight Sweet and stubborn, just like you

Verse 1

Two dictionaries open on the table Steam still rising, though we're barely able To look up words when you're this near Every meaning gets lost right here

Pre-chorus

The tea went cold an hour ago We didn't notice, didn't care to know Something's building and I want you to see

Chorus

Lilian, you're the finest thing I've found Worth a million, steady, safe and sound Lilian, hear it plain and hear it true There's nobody I'd rather sit with than you

Verse 2

You trace the page with one slow finger Some quiet words just linger and linger I watch you more than I watch the book There's poetry in the way you look up

Bridge

No fancy words could say it clearer You make the whole wide world feel nearer Simple as tea and simple as light You're the calm at the centre of my night

Chorus

Lilian, you're the finest thing I've found Worth a million, steady, safe and sound Lilian, hear it plain and hear it true There's nobody I'd rather sit with than you

Outro

The books stay open, the tea stays cold Nothing here needs to be told

Verse 1

The fire throws sparks at the black pines Wet needles hiss where the light lands I watch them climb past all the lines And think how you steady my hands

Pre-chorus

Nothing about this night is loud Just embers lifting, slow and small And you, half turned, half in the crowd

Chorus

Lilian, the sparks keep climbing high You're the warmth I keep coming back to find Lilian, I don't need a reason why You just make the quiet feel kind

Verse 2

Some nights the fire won't quite catch You strike it again without a word I never once doubt we'll make it back You're the calm beneath every spark stirred

Chorus

Lilian, the sparks keep climbing high You're the warmth I keep coming back to find Lilian, I don't need a reason why You just make the quiet feel kind

Bridge

Rain could fall and douse the whole wood You'd still be the one thing that's sure I've loved plenty things that never stood You're the one I keep coming back for

Chorus

Lilian, the sparks keep climbing high You're the warmth I keep coming back to find Lilian, I don't need a reason why You just make the quiet feel kind

Outro

The fire dies down to a low glow You're still the warmest thing I know

Verse 1

Rain comes down on the windscreen glass Headlights sweep and then they pass Midnight road, nowhere to be You're the calm inside the crash

Pre-chorus

Every light that moves across your face Finds another reason, another place To love you slower, love you true

Chorus

Lilian, you're the one I choose Steady when the whole world moves Nothing here feels accidental Lilian, I was never confused

Verse 2

Wet dashboard, glowing dim Your hand resting close to him No, it's yours I want to hold Nothing borrowed, nothing thin

Pre-chorus

Every light that moves across your face Finds another reason, another place To love you slower, love you true

Chorus

Lilian, you're the one I choose Steady when the whole world moves Nothing here feels accidental Lilian, I was never confused

Bridge

Storms will pass, this one will too I'm not going, I'm with you Quiet love outlasts the weather

Chorus

Lilian, you're the one I choose Steady when the whole world moves Nothing here feels accidental Lilian, I was never confused

Outro

Rain still falls on empty glass But I'm here, and here I'll last

Verse 1

A small radio hums low beside the empty crib tonight turning static into something soft and low but all I hear inside that gentle drifting light is the sound of you breathing easy, calm and slow

Pre-chorus

Every hush of night is folding close around you every little sound is turning into rest and I am staying near until the dark surrounds you

Chorus

Lilian, my brilliant one, the night is soft and kind sleep is coming gentle now, no need to try Lilian, you are held so close, no worry on your mind safe beneath a warm and watching sky

Verse 2

The blankets pull up warmer than the coldest million miles the room grows quiet, settling like a sigh and I keep watching over you with steady, waiting smiles while every worry drifts on somewhere far and by

Bridge

No need to chase the morning, no need to hurry through the whole wide world can wait outside the door there's nothing you must carry, nothing asked of you just rest, just breathe, just sleep a little more

Chorus

Lilian, my brilliant one, the night is soft and kind sleep is coming gentle now, no need to try Lilian, you are held so close, no worry on your mind safe beneath a warm and watching sky

Outro

The little radio hums its softest tune goodnight and you sleep on, held safe within its light

Verse 1

The lampshade drops a circle soft and golden by your bed It pools upon the floorboards like it's pouring out for you And everything outside that ring can wait until tomorrow There's nothing in the dark tonight that circle cannot do

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes and let the warm light hold you where you lie Nothing needs to happen now, no reason to be brave Just the hush, the golden hush, and one more soft goodnight

Chorus

Lilian, the whole wide house is quiet just for you Sleep is only love wrapped up in something warm and true Lilian, however far this night might stretch ahead You are held inside that circle, safe and gold and true

Verse 2

The wooden floor remembers every footstep that has crossed it But this small patch of lamplight only ever waits for you It never moves, it never fades before the morning It stays as steady as the love that carried you on through

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes and let the warm light hold you where you lie Nothing needs to happen now, no reason to be brave Just the hush, the golden hush, and one more soft goodnight

Chorus

Lilian, the whole wide house is quiet just for you Sleep is only love wrapped up in something warm and true Lilian, however far this night might stretch ahead You are held inside that circle, safe and gold and true

Bridge

Somewhere a lamp is always burning low and kind for you Somewhere the floor is always warm beneath a sleepy head

Chorus

Lilian, the whole wide house is quiet just for you Sleep is only love wrapped up in something warm and true Lilian, however far this night might stretch ahead You are held inside that circle, safe and gold and true

Outro

The lamp will keep its small gold watch till morning finds you Sleep now, Lilian, the circle's holding you

Verse 1

Somewhere a drop is counting the hours down to dawn You hear it fall so softly you're already half gone Each little sound is smaller than a breath can be That is how quiet the whole wide night will let you be

Chorus

Lilian, Lilian, close your eyes now, love is near Nothing in this house tonight has any need for fear You are the calm that even silence can't outgrow Lilian, you're held as gently as the water's slow

Verse 2

Rest your small hand open like a cup beneath the light Let every worry empty out and drain into the night You don't have to catch a single drop that falls tonight Just let it go the way the dark lets go of light

Pre-chorus

Feel how the dark leans down to hum a note so low Nothing is rushing, nothing here will ever hurry so Just one more breath before the quiet starts to glow

Chorus

Lilian, Lilian, close your eyes now, love is near Nothing in this house tonight has any need for fear You are the calm that even silence can't outgrow Lilian, you're held as gently as the water's slow

Bridge

Sleep comes in like water finding its own quiet way Filling up the small dark hours till they hold till day You are never something loved by chance or on a whim

Chorus

Lilian, Lilian, close your eyes now, love is near Nothing in this house tonight has any need for fear You are the calm that even silence can't outgrow Lilian, you're held as gently as the water's slow

Outro

Somewhere that same slow drop has finally come to rest Sleep now, Lilian, you are held, you are the best