Songs for Valerie

Verse 1

Two mugs on a stack of books Steam rising while the kettle cooks No plans made, no clock to mind Just you and the hush we find

Chorus

Valerie, you steady my whole day Nothing fancy, just you here to stay Valerie, my heart knows your name well Some loves shout, but ours can just tell

Verse 2

You take the chipped one, leave me the plain Small kindness, again and again The pages underneath hold old notes But it's your laugh that stays and floats

Pre-chorus

I never needed the grand gesture Just your hand and the warm mixture So let the coffee turn to cold

Chorus

Valerie, you steady my whole day Nothing fancy, just you here to stay Valerie, my heart knows your name well Some loves shout, but ours can just tell

Bridge

Through the loud years and the still ones too I'd choose this table, choose this view Just to sit here, watching you

Chorus

Valerie, you steady my whole day Nothing fancy, just you here to stay Valerie, my heart knows your name well Some loves shout, but ours can just tell

Outro

Two mugs cooling on those books This is love in its plainest look

Verse 1

Rain gets into the old brick wall Slips past the awning, green and worn Nothing built can keep it out Some things get through, however you're sworn

Pre-chorus

I used to think I was solid ground Then you came round the corner one day Now look what's finding a way in

Chorus

Valerie, you got past every wall I made Found the cracks I tried to hide Nothing keeps you standing outside Valerie, you're already deep inside

Verse 2

Water always finds the low place Settles where it's able to stay I didn't choose this, it just happened You found me the same simple way

Chorus

Valerie, you got past every wall I made Found the cracks I tried to hide Nothing keeps you standing outside Valerie, you're already deep inside

Bridge

Let it drip, let it soak right through I'm not fixing what you've undone This is what I wanted all along Whether it's new love or old, it's you

Chorus

Valerie, you got past every wall I made Found the cracks I tried to hide Nothing keeps you standing outside Valerie, you're already deep inside

Outro

Rain still finds that same old wall And still, somehow, it's you I let in

Verse 1

The tiles go gold under the lights I'm early, watching for your face You come in laughing, out of breath And nowhere else feels like this place

Pre-chorus

I've stood in queues that went nowhere But standing here is different now Something is about to turn

Chorus

Valerie, you're the reason I look up Valerie, the noise all falls away Two names called and neither of them ours I'd wait here with you every single day

Verse 2

You hand me half your ticket stub Like it's nothing, like it's fine I keep it folded in my coat Proof that your hand once touched mine

Pre-chorus

I've stood in queues that went nowhere But standing here is different now Something is about to turn

Chorus

Valerie, you're the reason I look up Valerie, the noise all falls away Two names called and neither of them ours I'd wait here with you every single day

Bridge

Trains keep leaving without us We just let them go Nothing here is urgent When you're the one I know

Chorus

Valerie, you're the reason I look up Valerie, the noise all falls away Two names called and neither of them ours I'd wait here with you every single day

Outro

The tiles still glow when you walk in And I am always glad I stayed

Verse 1

Wind is rattling soft against the chimney stack tonight Somewhere soot is drifting down through darkness to the floor Nothing outside can touch you, nothing dims your light Sleep is waiting gently now beyond the door

Pre-chorus

Hush now, let the gales go tumbling far away Close your eyes and let the small world fall still Sleep is coming closer with the fading of the day

Chorus

Valerie, the night is only holding you with care Every gust outside just rocks you deeper in your rest Nothing in the dark can find you, nothing lingers there Valerie, you're safest here, of all the world's the best

Verse 2

Down the flue the soot falls softly, quiet as a sigh Warmth still gathers round you though the storm is wide You are held by hands that love you, tucked in safe and dry Nothing that is wild outside can reach your side

Pre-chorus

Hush now, let the gales go tumbling far away Close your eyes and let the small world fall still Sleep is coming closer with the fading of the day

Chorus

Valerie, the night is only holding you with care Every gust outside just rocks you deeper in your rest Nothing in the dark can find you, nothing lingers there Valerie, you're safest here, of all the world's the best

Bridge

Let the autumn empty all its noise upon the roof Sleep will keep you far beyond its reach

Chorus

Valerie, the night is only holding you with care Every gust outside just rocks you deeper in your rest Nothing in the dark can find you, nothing lingers there Valerie, you're safest here, of all the world's the best

Outro

Let the soot keep falling soft while you are dreaming deep Valerie, you're held all through your sleep

Verse 1

The candle leans and lets its slow wax fall soft on the brass rim, taking its time to spill gathered light is easing into rest and you are held here, safer than it all

Chorus

Valerie, the whole room breathes for you warm as the last low flame the night burns through hush finds you first out of everyone it passes Valerie, the dark's not somewhere to fear, it's true

Verse 2

Watch how the light pools and never hurries anywhere gold going quiet along the shallow silver dish this is what waiting looks like when it loves you no rush at all, just warmth deciding to stay near

Pre-chorus

Your breathing slows to match the candle's own slow breath the wax has nearly stilled, the room is nearly still and something in me leans in closer just to say

Chorus

Valerie, the whole room breathes for you warm as the last low flame the night burns through hush finds you first out of everyone it passes Valerie, the dark's not somewhere to fear, it's true

Bridge

Sleep now, nothing here will move or change every soft thing in this room is on your side

Chorus

Valerie, the whole room breathes for you warm as the last low flame the night burns through hush finds you first out of everyone it passes Valerie, the dark's not somewhere to fear, it's true

Outro

The wax has settled small and gold along the rim sleep now, you are held here, and so warm

Verse 1

A thin gold line comes creeping underneath your door tonight It finds the pattern on the carpet and it turns it bright You watch it settle on the flowers woven in the floor Safe inside this little room with nothing to be scared for

Chorus

Valerie, the light is low and everything is kind Close your eyes, there's nowhere else you're meant to be tonight Nobody's counting up the hours, nobody's in a rush Valerie, my Valerie, just breathe now and hush

Verse 2

Somewhere past that door the whole house settles into rest Every creaking floorboard tucking in just like the rest You are the quiet centre where the warm light comes to lay There's nothing in the shadows, only softness on display

Pre-chorus

Hold on to how it feels to be this warm and this small Let every worry from the day just slip and gently fall There's one more song before the dark comes soft to take it all

Chorus

Valerie, the light is low and everything is kind Close your eyes, there's nowhere else you're meant to be tonight Nobody's counting up the hours, nobody's in a rush Valerie, my Valerie, just breathe now and hush

Bridge

Rain is tapping soft against the window like a friend Piano notes are folding into silence at the end Nothing has to happen now, nothing has to start You are held here fully, right at the centre of a heart

Chorus

Valerie, the light is low and everything is kind Close your eyes, there's nowhere else you're meant to be tonight Nobody's counting up the hours, nobody's in a rush Valerie, my Valerie, just breathe now and hush

Outro

That thin gold line will still be waiting there when morning comes Sleep now, Valerie, beneath the hush of everything that hums