Songs for Shirley

Verse 1

Old shears hang rusted on the wall Beside the hose all coiled and tall But nothing there has half your fire You're still the one who lights the choir

Chorus

Shirley, Shirley, up so early Grab the cake before it's swirly Everybody loves you dearly Shirley, Shirley, shine on clearly

Verse 2

You've weathered storms and mended fences Never lost your wild good senses Hands that worked through wind and weather Still the one who holds us together

Pre-chorus

So blow the candles, make some noise Bring the fiddles, bring the toys Tonight we raise this house for you

Chorus

Shirley, Shirley, up so early Grab the cake before it's swirly Everybody loves you dearly Shirley, Shirley, shine on clearly

Bridge

Not one bit surly, never dull We're cheering loudest, lungs and all Here's to you and every year The whole room's glad that you are here

Chorus

Shirley, Shirley, up so early Grab the cake before it's swirly Everybody loves you dearly Shirley, Shirley, shine on clearly

Outro

Hang the shears back on their nail We'll sing this every year, without fail

Verse 1

Feathers scatter on the grey ground Under a crooked old antenna Something plain turns into wonder The moment you walk into it, Shirley

Pre-chorus

We were just standing round waiting Nothing much happening at all Then we heard your voice call

Chorus

Shirley, you turn the whole street golden Even the pigeons seem to know Nobody else could do this to a Monday You're the reason we're glowing so

Verse 2

Rust on the antenna, dull and bent Cracked bricks and a tired old wall Then you laugh from the doorway And somehow it outshines it all

Chorus

Shirley, you turn the whole street golden Even the pigeons seem to know Nobody else could do this to a Monday You're the reason we're glowing so

Bridge

Blow out your candles, make it count Another year that you get to be here We're glad you were ever born, Shirley We're glad that you're still near

Chorus

Shirley, you turn the whole street golden Even the pigeons seem to know Nobody else could do this to a Monday You're the reason we're glowing so

Outro

The feathers settle back on the ground But something in us stays lit up

Verse 1

Cold rails buzzing under both my palms hands shaking loose like some old alarm dropping coins into the box tonight all of it just for you, Shirley

Chorus

Shirley, light the whole room up we came running when they called your name nobody spins a night like you Shirley, pour the glitter, pour it up

Verse 2

You laugh and the whole street turns around every candle bends towards your sound we're queuing up just to hold your hand this is your night, nobody else's

Pre-chorus

Music's climbing, feel it in your feet the coins keep dropping, count them if you dare something's building, get ready to shine

Chorus

Shirley, light the whole room up we came running when they called your name nobody spins a night like you Shirley, pour the glitter, pour it up

Bridge

Turn the volume up for you every year you make it new

Chorus

Shirley, light the whole room up we came running when they called your name nobody spins a night like you Shirley, pour the glitter, pour it up

Outro

Cold rails still ringing in our hands we'd drop every coin again for you

Verse 1

A brass little lamp throws its glow on the floor tonight curling out gentle and soft like an oval of light and under its warmth the whole room settles down slow you're held here so closely, you're tucked in just right

Pre-chorus

The house breathes out easy, the shadows lie still the glow on the carpet is waiting until your eyes start to close and the night gathers near

Chorus

Shirley, the light hums so low and so pearly sleep finds you gentle, sleep finds you early hush now, my darling, the dark can't come near you Shirley, my Shirley, so close and so dearly

Verse 2

Somewhere a curtain breathes soft with the night air outside and somewhere your breathing has slowed to a warm, easy tide you're wrapped up in quiet, you're safe as can be nothing can reach you while I'm here beside

Bridge

Rest now, the whole wide world can wait till morning comes you're held in this small round of gold and it's enough

Chorus

Shirley, the light hums so low and so pearly sleep finds you gentle, sleep finds you early hush now, my darling, the dark can't come near you Shirley, my Shirley, so close and so dearly

Outro

The lamp keeps its glow on the floor while you're dreaming soft as that light, you are held, you are dear

Verse 1

Frost is climbing slowly up the corner of the glass Outside the night grows quiet as the hours softly pass Warm beneath your blanket, you have nothing left to fear Nothing cold can reach you while you're resting safely here

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes and listen to the stillness of the room Feel the quiet settle like a soft and gentle bloom Sleep is only waiting for the word to let it come

Chorus

Shirley, Shirley, hush now, let the night be still Every worry melting like the frost upon the sill You are loved completely, you are held and kept from harm Shirley, sleep now knowing you are wrapped in something warm

Verse 2

Ice will keep on climbing while you're dreaming safe and deep Patterns spreading upward while the whole wide house's asleep Nothing in the darkness ever means you any harm Rest here in the shelter of a love that's always warm

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes and listen to the stillness of the room Feel the quiet settle like a soft and gentle bloom Sleep is only waiting for the word to let it come

Chorus

Shirley, Shirley, hush now, let the night be still Every worry melting like the frost upon the sill You are loved completely, you are held and kept from harm Shirley, sleep now knowing you are wrapped in something warm

Bridge

Morning comes so gently after nights like these Bringing back the sunlight, melting frost with ease You will wake up certain that you're cherished through and through

Chorus

Shirley, Shirley, hush now, let the night be still Every worry melting like the frost upon the sill You are loved completely, you are held and kept from harm Shirley, sleep now knowing you are wrapped in something warm

Outro

Frost will keep on climbing while the whole wide world stays still Sleep now, little Shirley, safe and warm upon the sill

Verse 1

A soft amber light climbs the roof of the car Painting the fabric with gold going grey You watch it float upward, so close and so far And I hold you gently the whole of the way

Pre-chorus

The world goes quiet as the light starts to swim Your eyes growing heavy, your breathing grows slow There's nowhere to be now but wrapped soft and warm

Chorus

Shirley, my Shirley, the glow says you're safe Close as the heartbeat that hums where you lay Nothing can touch you in this gentle place Shirley, the night keeps you held until day

Verse 2

The hum of the engine has turned to a song Low as a lullaby only you know You curl in the warmth where you always belong And the amber light dims as it starts to let go

Pre-chorus

The world goes quiet as the light starts to swim Your eyes growing heavy, your breathing grows slow There's nowhere to be now but wrapped soft and warm

Chorus

Shirley, my Shirley, the glow says you're safe Close as the heartbeat that hums where you lay Nothing can touch you in this gentle place Shirley, the night keeps you held until day

Bridge

Sleep now, the glow will keep watch while you rest Soft on the ceiling, it won't fade away

Chorus

Shirley, my Shirley, the glow says you're safe Close as the heartbeat that hums where you lay Nothing can touch you in this gentle place Shirley, the night keeps you held until day

Outro

The amber light dims to a hush overhead Sleep now, my Shirley, the night holds you well