Lyrics for paper rings: 8 love stories (2016)

THE LIGHT IN YOUR EYES
The evening light, a Paris sky 
The wind might be a lullaby 
But our babies are not babies anymore 
Way back then we were friends
We thought that’s just where it ends 
But your kiss showed me what my heart was for 

I saw the light in your eyes, in your eyes, in your eyes

They might have sent me far away 
But the fates were kind, they let me stay 
And on Walden Pond you got down on your knee 
Our first Christmas tree, small and spare 
We had no cash, we did not care 
One ornament from you, one from me 

And the light in your eyes, in your eyes, in your eyes 
the light in your eyes, in your eyes, in your eyes 

When I’m adrift on empty, on a starless night 
You shine so bright, you save me, you save me 
You don’t even know that you save me… 

With the light in your eyes in your eyes, in your eyes 
the light in your eyes, in your eyes, in your eyes 

Two little girls in matching shoes, racing down the sand with you 
In your eyes 
A little boy eyes open wide, watch that rocket fly so high 
In your eyes 

The evening light, a Paris sky, the wind feels like a lullaby 

MY EVERYTHING
At the bad gift party you might leave 
With velvet Elvis, a plastic rosary 
I left that night heart on my sleeve 
A little bit giddy, a little bit free 
But I led my heart back to her cage 
The gilded delicate one I’d made 
Where dreams were dangerous but I felt safe 
And I heard a little voice inside me say 

You’re my, you’re my everything 

What if we’d both stayed home that night? 
Oh, but lucky for us, we both love good wine 
And somehow in that bar’s low lights
You recognized the woman I’d been inside 
You just tapped my shoulder and you changed my life 
Now you’re my, you’re my everything 

Besides Thanksgiving Day in Central Park 
Oh, love, we never really have to go too far 
I’ll take the dead of night, our couch, our car 
I just wanna be right where you are 

Cuz you’re my, you’re my, you’re my everything 

At the bad gift party you might get 
Neon legwarmers, a Jesus statuette 
Oh, honey, you’re the best gift I’ve gotten yet 
Well, that and the night you said “yes” 
Yeah, that and the night you said “yes” 
Yeah, that and the night you said “yes” 

PERFECT DAY
I tiptoe in early, steal you from sleep 
Bring you your coffee, it’s weaker than weak 
You climb on your bicycle and you’re free 
Then we’ll walk to the square 
Those oak trees above 
Come home with flowers -- why? Just because 
Let’s take the long way –there’s no need to rush 
Yeah, it’s morning on our perfect day 

If I could I would make every day this way 

Back home on cool grass the dogs in the shade 
You laugh at my memory of when I first saw you play 
I swore you would leave with a black eye that game 
We’ll put an old record on; I’ll make us something to eat 
While you clean the house, but it’s already clean 
You light the candles and smile up at me 
Yeah, it’s evening on our perfect day 

If I could I would make every day this way 

Now here we are under all of this sky 
But it does not rival all I feel inside 
And I’m pinching myself you’re even mine 
If I could I would make every day this way 
If I could I would make every day this way 
If I could I would make every day this way 

You’re the reason, the reason… 
For the smile on my face 

EVEN THE BIRDS
She’s talking in whispers now up on her tiptip toes 
Peeking at a robin’s eggs, stealing photos 
Look how deep blue can go 
Of all of the doorways on Olive Street 
They flew right to yours, forget those trees 
It wasn’t by chance; they could tell 

It was no mistake, it was no mistake 
It was no mistake, even the birds knew  

All of those years ago back at your old place
Was it the light that changed? Was it the champagne?
On that New Year’s Day 

It was no mistake, it was no mistake 
It was no mistake, even the birds knew 
Even the birds, even the birds… 

We stumble in from the cold 
Through your open door 
Peel off our winter coats 
Pile our shoes on the floor 
It’s always so warm where you are 
It’s always so warm 

It was no mistake, it was no mistake
It was no mistake, even the birds knew 

IN YOUR COMPANY
Do you remember now 
How light the air was when we first set out? 
How clear the sky? 
A blue untroubled like a baby’s eyes 
Yeah, I could breathe in your company 

Then the storm rose up 
Threw its weight around, then both of us 
I thought I’d lost you then 
In all the wind and rain and words unsaid 
I was in need of your company 

I come alive when I am with you 
I open like the flowers do 
In your company, your company 

I burst wide open  
What once was frozen, now is free 

Now the red sun’s out 
Burned its way out from behind those clouds 
And that is me 

In your company 
I come alive when I am with you 
I open like the flowers do 
In your company 

WE GOT THIS
She hates 80’s music and so do I 
I like sensitive lady singers; she’s more the boy band type 
She doesn’t mind the morning, she lets me rest my eyes 
She brings me coffee, singing “rise and shine porcupine” 

We got this, my love 
We got this, love 

I had to head across the country; I had to know 
She grabbed the heavy bags; we just hit the road 
And all the miles and hours in between 
All we had were love notes and late night laptop screens 

We got this, my love 
We got this, love 
We got this, my love 
We got this, love 

When my heart was aching 
at the closing door, she just knew 
And her family’s my family, too 
They just made room 

Today is what we dreamed of and now it’s true 
That mountain’s watching over us, I’m smiling up at you 
Oooohhh, my love 
We got this, my love 
We got this, love 
A bushel and a peck 
To the moon, the sun and back again 
With my whole heart I say yes 
We got this, we got this, we got this 

THE SMALLEST THINGS
I thought love was fairy tales and sunsets 
The perfect song over the perfect scene 
I played along, prayed my heart would follow 
But it was just a dream 

Then I woke up and stepped into the sunlight 
There you were, the sweetest, calmest smile on your face 
All at once, love, everything felt easy 
My heart had found her place 

In the smallest things like the paper rings you made us 
Holding your hand while we fall asleep 
All those love notes in secret backwards writing 
It’s in the smallest things 

Now I never long for some storybook ending 
The best part of this story, love, is it’s got no end 
Every new day with you feels like Christmas morning 
I get to fall for you all over again 

With the smallest things like the paper rings you made us 
Holding your hand while we fall asleep 
All those love notes in secret backwards writing 
It’s in the smallest… 

Ooh, the ornaments and white lights
 You dressed up winter, now you’ve brought me spring 
All the ways you’ve made our house a home now 
All the color you bring, it’s in the smallest things 
it’s in the smallest things 

I thought love was fairy tales and sunsets 
I just want you to grow old with me 

I’M NO DANCER
I first saw you from backstage 
In that Spanish play 
You were a star even back in high school 
Asked you to senior prom
You put that blue dress on 
I was changed that night in Liverpool 

No, I’m no dancer 
But I danced all night with you 

Springfield to Buffalo 
Man, did time move slow 
All that waiting in between 
And the night you cried 
When that songbird died 
You showed your truest heart to me 

No, I’m no dancer 
But I would dance all night with you 
I would dance all night with you… 

All this time, all this time 
All this time, it’s still you 

They turned the music off 
The only light still on 
Is that sea of stars above our heads 

Will you dance with me, dance with me 
Oh, love, let me see your smile 
You know I’m no dancer but you made me believe
These earthly feet could fly 

Will you dance with me all night?