Songs for Winnie

Verse 1

Rain came down on the old ground Flag still stood, tied and bound Three yellow ribbons snapping hard We came for you, no other reason found

Pre-chorus

Something in that flapping cloth Says the ones who love you never stop Get the horns up, here it comes

Chorus

Winnie, we brought the whole brass band Loud enough to shake your hand Cheering hard from every stand Nobody else could take command

Verse 2

Mud on our boots, breath like smoke Somebody started up a joke Every single face turned round Waiting on the words you spoke

Chorus

Winnie, we brought the whole brass band Loud enough to shake your hand Cheering hard from every stand Nobody else could take command

Bridge

Tie another ribbon on for luck Blow the trumpets, strike the drum However many years you've had There's not been many quite as good

Chorus

Winnie, we brought the whole brass band Loud enough to shake your hand Cheering hard from every stand Nobody else could take command

Outro

Flag still flying, damp and torn Glad, so glad, that you were born

Verse 1

Red string tied in a bow Flour dust on the steel Someone kept this a secret Just to see how you'd feel

Pre-chorus

Hands are waiting to clap Voices ready to rise Somebody light every candle

Chorus

Winnie, we made this for you Sweet as a stolen penny Every good thing comes true When the room is full of Winnie

Verse 2

Count how far you have travelled Farther than any could guess Nobody carries your kindness Nobody wears it so well

Chorus

Winnie, we made this for you Sweet as a stolen penny Every good thing comes true When the room is full of Winnie

Bridge

Cut the string, lift the lid Let the whole table cheer Whatever this year is bringing We are glad you are here

Chorus

Winnie, we made this for you Sweet as a stolen penny Every good thing comes true When the room is full of Winnie

Outro

Fold the box, keep the string Keep this day close and warm

Verse 1

Crumpled paper on the glass Someone tried to make it last Rusty mower hid in green Silliest gift you've ever seen

Pre-chorus

Nobody wraps a mower right But love don't care how it's tied up tight So grab your coat and hold the door

Chorus

Winnie, come and see what's here Wrapped up rough but wrapped with cheer Every year we count on you Winnie, many happy returns too

Verse 2

Dust upon the windowpane Can't hide joy, it shows just the same Whoever wrapped this had no clue But they were thinking hard of you

Chorus

Winnie, come and see what's here Wrapped up rough but wrapped with cheer Every year we count on you Winnie, many happy returns too

Bridge

Doesn't matter what's in the paper What matters is who stayed here later Cheering loud for one more year

Chorus

Winnie, come and see what's here Wrapped up rough but wrapped with cheer Every year we count on you Winnie, many happy returns too

Outro

That dusty glass still holds the light Happy birthday, Winnie, shine tonight

Verse 1

The curtain lifts and settles like it's breathing with the room and the cold glass holds the starlight while the dark begins to bloom your striped blanket knows the shape of every curl you make you are the softest reason that this whole house stays awake

Pre-chorus

Hush now, let the lace fall still against the frosted pane let the wind outside go wandering, it won't come in again there's a warmth here only you could ever bring

Chorus

Winnie, the night has room for nothing else but you sleep is just the softest thing that loves you through and through however far the dark goes on, however far it spreads you're the one good thing it's keeping safe above your head

Verse 2

Somewhere past the window frost is drawing patterns thin and slow but under all this stripy warmth you're glowing like an ember's glow every little breath you take goes rising like a prayer and it tells this whole quiet house exactly who is there

Chorus

Winnie, the night has room for nothing else but you sleep is just the softest thing that loves you through and through however far the dark goes on, however far it spreads you're the one good thing it's keeping safe above your head

Bridge

Let the cold stay out beyond the glass where it belongs you were never meant to hear the wind's uncertain songs only ever meant for warmth, for blankets soft and thin

Chorus

Winnie, the night has room for nothing else but you sleep is just the softest thing that loves you through and through however far the dark goes on, however far it spreads you're the one good thing it's keeping safe above your head

Outro

The lace will keep on drifting soft against the frozen pane and you'll be sleeping warmer than the whole wide world again

Verse 1

There's a brass key resting quiet on its little hook tonight And you are the reason it hangs so calm and still Every door in this house has already done its work Now it waits for morning while you rest until you will

Pre-chorus

The hallway keeps its shadows soft and folded near the wall No need to wander further, no need to fear at all Close your eyes now, Winnie, let the whole house exhale

Chorus

Winnie, Winnie, hush now, sleep is many kinds of kind Not a penny of the dark can touch you where you lie You're the finny little dreamer drifting soft behind your mind Winnie, hold the quiet close and let the night pass by

Verse 2

Somewhere in the cabinet the brass is going cool and dim And nothing in this house will need to move till day You are held together by the softest kind of hinge One that only opens when it's time for you to stay

Bridge

No key could ever open half of what you carry here Just rest, and let the darkness turn to something near

Chorus

Winnie, Winnie, hush now, sleep is many kinds of kind Not a penny of the dark can touch you where you lie You're the finny little dreamer drifting soft behind your mind Winnie, hold the quiet close and let the night pass by

Outro

Somewhere a small brass key is hanging steady on its hook Sleep now, Winnie, you are safe in every corner it once took

Verse 1

The lamp burns low and gold above your pillow now My hand rests on the chair where you were leaning Your breathing slows to match the creak of woven cane There's nothing in this hour that needs explaining

Pre-chorus

Close your eyes before the last page turns to grey Let every worry drift like paper on a stream Hold still, my darling, we are almost to the dream

Chorus

Winnie, Winnie, sleep is calling soft and slow Nobody could love you more than I do Rest your small head where the lamplight barely glows Winnie, I will still be here beside you

Verse 2

Somewhere past the window all the stars are settling in Your small hand has slipped from mine but stays in reach Even in the dark you're never far from where I sit Sleep will carry you further than my speech

Chorus

Winnie, Winnie, sleep is calling soft and slow Nobody could love you more than I do Rest your small head where the lamplight barely glows Winnie, I will still be here beside you

Bridge

Let the chair creak once more beneath this quiet weight of love Every hush tonight was made for you alone

Chorus

Winnie, Winnie, sleep is calling soft and slow Nobody could love you more than I do Rest your small head where the lamplight barely glows Winnie, I will still be here beside you

Outro

The lamp will dim but never leave you in the dark Sleep now, Winnie, safe within this quiet spark