Songs for Orla

Verse 1

We found that record in the dust Your thumb met mine like it was trust The cardboard soft from years of hands We traced the spine like it was planned

Pre-chorus

It's just a sleeve, a worn out thing But something in it makes me sing And every time your fingers move

Chorus

Orla, you're the song I know by heart Every groove of you, I've learned each part Orla, Orla, steady as that spinning line Nothing sounds as right as your hand in mine

Verse 2

We don't need the music on The quiet holds us just as long Your thumb still finds that same old crease And I still feel that same release

Bridge

Some folks chase the newest sound We just let the old one turn around I'd rather have this worn out groove Than any song I've yet to prove

Chorus

Orla, you're the song I know by heart Every groove of you, I've learned each part Orla, Orla, steady as that spinning line Nothing sounds as right as your hand in mine

Outro

The cardboard's soft, our thumbs still slow That's the only song I need to know

Verse 1

Salt fell across the green paper Grease soaked through where the fold gave way Nothing about it was fancy You laughed and called it a keeper

Pre-chorus

I never planned to say this here But something in me got braver So before the moment slips

Chorus

Orla, you turn plain things golden Even the mess looks like a blessing I don't need the grand or the sold thing Just you, Orla, and this evening

Verse 2

You fold the paper back so gently Like it still holds something precious I watch your hands and I'm certain This is the part I'll remember

Chorus

Orla, you turn plain things golden Even the mess looks like a blessing I don't need the grand or the sold thing Just you, Orla, and this evening

Bridge

No candles lit, no speech prepared Just salt and grease and you right there That's the love I want to keep

Chorus

Orla, you turn plain things golden Even the mess looks like a blessing I don't need the grand or the sold thing Just you, Orla, and this evening

Outro

The paper's torn but still holds together Like us, a little worn, still here

Verse 1

Headlights sweep across the map Yellow roads in scattered light Every mile folds into you You're the reason I drive at night

Chorus

Orla, you're the map I trust Every road leads back to you Something steady, something just Orla, love like this stays true

Verse 2

Gravel roads on paper worn Traced by hands that know the way I don't need to check the signs When you're the one who says we'll stay

Pre-chorus

No map could hold what's true Every line I've memorised on you Pulls me closer, pulls me through

Chorus

Orla, you're the map I trust Every road leads back to you Something steady, something just Orla, love like this stays true

Bridge

New love or old, it's still the same Quiet hands upon the wheel You don't need a bigger flame Just this steady thing that's real

Chorus

Orla, you're the map I trust Every road leads back to you Something steady, something just Orla, love like this stays true

Outro

Headlights fade but you don't go You're the road I always know

Verse 1

Heavy drops are sliding slowly down the window glass tonight Catching just one lamp outside that glows a soft and steady orange light Everything is settling now, the whole world breathing slow You are warm and you are held, there's nowhere else to go

Chorus

Orla, Orla, close your eyes and drift away with me Nothing in this quiet room could ever trouble thee Orla, hush now, let the night wrap round you tight You are loved beyond all measure, sleep and rest tonight

Verse 2

The lamp outside keeps watch for you while shadows softly creep Painting one small orange glow to guide you into sleep Rain will keep on falling gently long after you are still Every drop that slides on down is answering your will

Pre-chorus

Let the window hum its quiet song of amber and of rain Let your busy little thoughts unwind and settle down again Something warm is waiting just beyond this breath you take

Chorus

Orla, Orla, close your eyes and drift away with me Nothing in this quiet room could ever trouble thee Orla, hush now, let the night wrap round you tight You are loved beyond all measure, sleep and rest tonight

Bridge

No storm outside could ever reach the place where you now lie Only orange light and rain beneath a gentle sky You are safer than you know, and closer than you feel

Chorus

Orla, Orla, close your eyes and drift away with me Nothing in this quiet room could ever trouble thee Orla, hush now, let the night wrap round you tight You are loved beyond all measure, sleep and rest tonight

Outro

The rain will slide down slowly long after you have gone to sleep And that same warm light will hold you safely while you keep

Verse 1

Far off wheels are clicking soft against the steel tonight Carrying their low and easy rumble out of sight Nothing in the dark can reach you here You are held so close and wrapped in warm and quiet light

Pre-chorus

Every sound out there is turning slow and kind for you The night is drawing all its little noises into one long hum And it's humming you down, down into sleep

Chorus

Orla, Orla, let the whole wide night grow still Nothing you should carry and nothing you need will Close your eyes upon my shoulder now I will hold you here until the morning fills

Verse 2

Somewhere far a train is settling into its long low song Rolling on through fields you'll never have to walk along You can rest while all that distance drifts away There is nowhere in this world where you belong but here

Bridge

Hush now, let the rumble carry all your worry far from here Sleep is just the quiet side of everything you love

Chorus

Orla, Orla, let the whole wide night grow still Nothing you should carry and nothing you need will Close your eyes upon my shoulder now I will hold you here until the morning fills

Outro

The wheels have faded soft into a hush beyond the hill Sleep now, Orla, the night is warm and still

Verse 1

The lamp is spilling yellow down along the grey carpet floor Soft as breath it climbs the wooden rail beside your bed You are curled up warm behind the old familiar door Nothing in the whole wide dark can touch that golden thread

Chorus

Orla, hush now, let the evening hold you close and slow Every worry of the daylight has already let you go Orla, feel the quiet settle soft as falling snow Sleep is just a boat that carries you where dreams will grow

Verse 2

The hallway light still leans against the banister so still Painting one warm stripe across the carpet where you lie That glow was always yours, it climbs the stairs at your own will And it will still be waiting there when morning fills the sky

Pre-chorus

Somewhere past the window all the stars are keeping time Somewhere down the hallway that same lamp begins to climb And here inside this room, the whole wide night is only mine

Chorus

Orla, hush now, let the evening hold you close and slow Every worry of the daylight has already let you go Orla, feel the quiet settle soft as falling snow Sleep is just a boat that carries you where dreams will grow

Bridge

Rest your head, the house is breathing gently all around Nothing here will wake before the morning finds its sound

Chorus

Orla, hush now, let the evening hold you close and slow Every worry of the daylight has already let you go Orla, feel the quiet settle soft as falling snow Sleep is just a boat that carries you where dreams will grow

Outro

The yellow light still falls in one long line across the floor And you are held inside its warmth till morning's at the door

Verse 1

Napkins crooked, folded every which way Candles flicker, frost against the pane We'd rearrange them all a dozen times a day But we're just marking time until you're here again

Pre-chorus

The wood is cold, the fire's burning low Every chair is waiting, every glass is set Everything feels like the opening line

Chorus

Orla, come and warm this room with light Orla, we kept your place beside the flame Winter's long but shorter when you're near The table's incomplete without your name

Verse 2

Carols drift through rooms that feel too wide Frost creeps in and settles on the sill We've hung the lights but still we stand outside Looking for the joy that only comes from you

Bridge

Nothing's quite the same when you're away Every year the world turns back to you

Chorus

Orla, come and warm this room with light Orla, we kept your place beside the flame Winter's long but shorter when you're near The table's incomplete without your name

Outro

The napkins wait, the frost keeps watch outside You'll be the one who turns the dark to gold

Verse 1

Wet coats dripping on the floor below Frost and silver in the fading light You arrive like warmth that we need most Bringing laughter through the winter night

Pre-chorus

All the carols sound so much like home When you're standing in the hallway here And the year turns slowly into gold

Chorus

Orla, you're the brightness in December Bringing all of us together round the fire Come sit close where we remember Orla, you're the one that we desire

Verse 2

Candles burning steadily and sure Stars are scattered thick across the sky You settle in and suddenly it's clear This is what we've waited for all year

Bridge

Holly green and frost upon the glass All the things that make this moment last

Chorus

Orla, you're the brightness in December Bringing all of us together round the fire Come sit close where we remember Orla, you're the one that we desire

Outro

Wet coats warming by the door once more You are home to us forevermore

Verse 1

The back door's open to the winter air Someone scrapes the frost with patient care You're the warmth we gather close to here The reason this whole season feels so clear

Chorus

Orla, you make the cold retreat When you're with us, nothing's incomplete Lights and carols, fires burning bright Orla shines throughout the longest night

Verse 2

Round the table, laughter fills the room Your arrival chases every bit of gloom Frost still clings beyond the windowpane But you're here, and that is all that counts

Pre-chorus

Every carol sounds a little truer Every moment here feels richer too, and All the year turns gentle when you're near

Chorus

Orla, you make the cold retreat When you're with us, nothing's incomplete Lights and carols, fires burning bright Orla shines throughout the longest night

Bridge

Stay a little longer if you can Let the winter know just who you are

Chorus

Orla, you make the cold retreat When you're with us, nothing's incomplete Lights and carols, fires burning bright Orla shines throughout the longest night

Outro

The door stays open just a moment more You're the warmth we've been waiting for