Songs for Walter

Verse 1

The night got loud around this table Glasses stacking, high as we're able Every one of them tells a story Tonight the story is your glory

Pre-chorus

We keep filling up and raising Every toast is worth the saying So let the noise get even bigger

Chorus

Walter, Walter, hear us shout it Nobody does a birthday like it Walter, put your hands up higher You light this whole room up like fire

Verse 2

Somebody spilled a drink out laughing Nobody cared, the fun kept flashing You're the reason we all gathered Doesn't matter if we're battered

Pre-chorus

We keep filling up and raising Every toast is worth the saying So let the noise get even bigger

Chorus

Walter, Walter, hear us shout it Nobody does a birthday like it Walter, put your hands up higher You light this whole room up like fire

Bridge

You never falter when it matters You steady us when the world scatters Another year and still you're golden

Chorus

Walter, Walter, hear us shout it Nobody does a birthday like it Walter, put your hands up higher You light this whole room up like fire

Outro

The glasses empty, table sticky We'll toast you every year, be quick see

Verse 1

Boots lined up against the shed Worn soft from all you've done You never made a fuss about it You just showed up, day by day, everyone

Pre-chorus

We could not falter, could not fail With you standing steady near Something in us starts to swell

Chorus

Walter, Walter, hear us sing You're the ground we're standing on Never once did your love falter Walter, we're so glad you're here

Verse 2

Every path you walked was honest Every door you opened wide We could always find you steady Right there with the light inside

Pre-chorus

We could not falter, could not fail With you standing steady near Something in us starts to swell

Chorus

Walter, Walter, hear us sing You're the ground we're standing on Never once did your love falter Walter, we're so glad you're here

Bridge

Clap your hands and give him room Let the whole house rise and sing Nothing shakes what you've built here You're the truest kind of thing

Chorus

Walter, Walter, hear us sing You're the ground we're standing on Never once did your love falter Walter, we're so glad you're here

Outro

Boots still waiting by the shed Just like you, still standing strong

Verse 1

The wind just took the paper plates Right past the row of chairs Nobody moved to go and chase them Too busy watching you laugh there

Pre-chorus

We lit the candles anyway The cake's a mess, the chairs half empty But look who's still the reason we came

Chorus

Walter, we're raising every glass Nothing here could ever falter Every year that you're around Shines a little brighter, Walter

Verse 2

Someone's shouting happy birthday Off key but meaning every word You're grinning like you don't quite buy it Like praise is something slightly absurd

Chorus

Walter, we're raising every glass Nothing here could ever falter Every year that you're around Shines a little brighter, Walter

Bridge

Let the plates blow where they want Let the candles gutter out This lawn has seen a lot of years None of them without you shouting

Chorus

Walter, we're raising every glass Nothing here could ever falter Every year that you're around Shines a little brighter, Walter

Outro

Some plate's still tumbling past the chairs We're glad we get another year of you

Verse 1

My feet are cold on this old step Tea's gone cold, I never kept track You sat down close, didn't say much And nothing about that felt like it lacked

Chorus

Walter, you never made me falter Steady as stone, you never alter Some folks change with the weather Walter, you're the one thing I'm after

Verse 2

Mornings used to feel so plain Now I save the quiet just for you Every ordinary little thing Turns into something good and new

Pre-chorus

I don't need the tea to stay warm I don't need the sun to break through I just need you close, saying nothing

Chorus

Walter, you never made me falter Steady as stone, you never alter Some folks change with the weather Walter, you're the one thing I'm after

Bridge

Let the cold get into my bones I'll stay right here, I won't move You're the reason I forget the hour There's nothing left that I need to prove

Chorus

Walter, you never made me falter Steady as stone, you never alter Some folks change with the weather Walter, you're the one thing I'm after

Outro

The tea went cold, I didn't mind My feet still rest where yours have been

Verse 1

Salt dries slow on the green wood rail We sat there past the end of the day You didn't need to tell the tale Your hand on mine said all you'd say

Pre-chorus

The tide pulled back and left us still Nothing moved but the light and the wind And I felt something settle and fill

Chorus

Walter, you're the calm after the storm Steady as the salt on that old bench You keep me safe, you keep me warm No river deep, no love could quench

Verse 2

Years could pass and boards could rot We'd still find our way to that seat Every place we've been, every spot Somehow always brings me back to your feet

Pre-chorus

The gulls cry out but we don't flinch We've weathered worse than salt and rain And I won't ever want to inch

Chorus

Walter, you're the calm after the storm Steady as the salt on that old bench You keep me safe, you keep me warm No river deep, no love could quench

Bridge

Let the wood grey, let the paint peel This is the truest thing I know You're the one steady, constant, real

Chorus

Walter, you're the calm after the storm Steady as the salt on that old bench You keep me safe, you keep me warm No river deep, no love could quench

Outro

Salt will dry on that bench again And I'll still be right here, Walter, then

Verse 1

Morning light comes through the window Dust hangs above the toaster there I watch it drift and settle slowly Same as how I watch you, unaware

Pre-chorus

Nothing here is loud or hurried Just the hum of what we've built This is where my heart stays sturdy

Chorus

Walter, you're the calm inside my chest Every quiet room feels right with you near Walter, you don't ever have to try You're the one thing I don't fear

Verse 2

Some days pass without a word said We just move around the same small space I could pick you out of any crowd Just by the way you hold your face

Pre-chorus

Nothing here is loud or hurried Just the hum of what we've built This is where my heart stays sturdy

Chorus

Walter, you're the calm inside my chest Every quiet room feels right with you near Walter, you don't ever have to try You're the one thing I don't fear

Bridge

I never needed grand or golden I just needed steady, needed true Every ordinary hour turns to something The second that I'm here with you

Chorus

Walter, you're the calm inside my chest Every quiet room feels right with you near Walter, you don't ever have to try You're the one thing I don't fear

Outro

Dust still floats above the toaster I'll keep loving you in this same light

Verse 1

A stripe of yellow light falls soft across the stairs tonight Quiet gathers in the hallway, dimming every sound and sight Somewhere past that gentle glow your little eyes grow slow You are held here, you are safe here, tucked away from every fright

Chorus

Walter, close your eyes now, let the whole wide house grow still Nothing here can hurt you, nothing wishes to or will Sleep is only softness rising slowly to the sill Walter, you are loved so deeply, that no dark can ever spill

Verse 2

Patterned paper on the wall keeps every shadow calm and slow Up above the sleeping rooms a hush begins to grow Little breaths are rising, gentle as the falling light You are safe inside this evening, wrapped in all it has to show

Pre-chorus

Somewhere a door clicks softly shut against the cooling air Somewhere a candle dims to nothing, leaving only care And still that golden line keeps shining, telling you it's there

Chorus

Walter, close your eyes now, let the whole wide house grow still Nothing here can hurt you, nothing wishes to or will Sleep is only softness rising slowly to the sill Walter, you are loved so deeply, that no dark can ever spill

Bridge

Rest now, little wanderer, the night has nowhere else to be Every hush that holds you also holds a part of me

Chorus

Walter, close your eyes now, let the whole wide house grow still Nothing here can hurt you, nothing wishes to or will Sleep is only softness rising slowly to the sill Walter, you are loved so deeply, that no dark can ever spill

Outro

That stripe of light will still be waiting gently on the stair Sleep now, Walter, you are cradled softly everywhere

Verse 1

A far off light turns slowly past the window where you lie It brushes soft across the wall and then it drifts away I watch it move and think of how it never seems to hurry And know that you are safer than the quiet end of day

Chorus

Walter, close your eyes now, let the light keep turning slow Nothing in this room can touch you, nothing you should know You are held here warmer than the white walls ever glow Walter, you are steady even when the beam is low

Verse 2

The wall goes bright then dim again the way your breathing does A hush moves through the house like water settling to still I keep my hand upon you as the far beam sweeps and passes And nothing in the dark tonight can climb up on this sill

Pre-chorus

The light will keep on turning long after you have gone to sleep It does not need you watching, it will still be there at dawn So let your shoulders soften now, there's nothing left to keep

Chorus

Walter, close your eyes now, let the light keep turning slow Nothing in this room can touch you, nothing you should know You are held here warmer than the white walls ever glow Walter, you are steady even when the beam is low

Bridge

However far that light must travel, it will not travel here You are wrapped in something steadier than any beam can be Sleep is only you and me and one small quiet sphere

Chorus

Walter, close your eyes now, let the light keep turning slow Nothing in this room can touch you, nothing you should know You are held here warmer than the white walls ever glow Walter, you are steady even when the beam is low

Outro

The light will turn its slow round long after you have drifted And you will still be held here, warm and safe and gifted

Verse 1

The curtains lift and settle over floorboards cool and bare Midnight breathes so gently through the open window there Nothing in this room will ever cause you harm or fear Only warmth and quiet things are waiting for you here

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes and let the whole wide world grow small Every worry drifting off, you don't need them at all Just the hush, the breath, the dark, and one more lullaby call

Chorus

Walter, you're the softest light this house has ever known Nothing here will ever let you feel alone You will never falter while I'm holding on so tight Walter, close your eyes now, rest here through the night

Verse 2

Somewhere past the window sill the stars are settling too Every quiet thing tonight is watching over you The floorboards hold the stillness like they're keeping it in trust Sleep will come so easy now, there's really no need to rush

Chorus

Walter, you're the softest light this house has ever known Nothing here will ever let you feel alone You will never falter while I'm holding on so tight Walter, close your eyes now, rest here through the night

Bridge

However far the night unwinds, you're held here safe and sound Nothing in the dark tonight will ever pull you down

Chorus

Walter, you're the softest light this house has ever known Nothing here will ever let you feel alone You will never falter while I'm holding on so tight Walter, close your eyes now, rest here through the night

Outro

The curtains breathe so slowly now above the floor you know Sleep well, little Walter, let the quiet carry you low