[Verse 1] Come here, little boots, leave the ash at the door. Your coat smells of rain, and the world smells of more. Dirty knees, dirty sleeves, dirty bread in your hand, still you smile at the cup like a king in this land. I’ll brush off the dust, I’ll unlace both your shoes. The floor boards complain, but they know what to do. Lay your head on the crate, with the torn wool I saved, while the dark walks the yard and the crows count the graves. [Pre-Chorus] If the night claws the wall, if the rafters groan low, keep your small hands in mine till the last ember goes. Hear the moaning out there? Let it wander, let it stray. Inside this poor room, you are safe for today. [Chorus] Sleep, little bird, sleep. Sleep through the cold night. Sleep, little bird, sleep. I’ll keep the door tight. When the dark goes prowling, and the shadows lean near, sleep, little bird, sleep, I am right here. [Verse 2] They came home with bare faces, with the hunger in their eyes, some with angry mouths, some with storms in their lives. But they left at the threshold, left the bruises outside, left the fear in the lane where the broken dogs hide. We split one last spoon between you and your friend, licked the bowl to the shine, then prayed it would mend. No full belly tonight, just a tale and a touch, just my palm on your hair saying, “That is enough.” [Pre-Chorus] If the pipes start to knock, if the gate starts to sway, if the hunted wind runs through the seams of the day, close your eyes on my sleeve, count the cracks in the wall. I will sit with your dream like a guard through it all. [Chorus] Sleep, little bird, sleep. Sleep through the cold night. Sleep, little bird, sleep. I’ll keep the door tight. When the dark goes prowling, and the shadows lean near, sleep, little bird, sleep, I am right here. [Bridge] One day, maybe bread will be soft in your teeth. One day, maybe gardens will rise from the grief. Till then I will gather what warmth I can keep, pin a candle in my chest and sing you to sleep. [Chorus] Sleep, little bird, sleep. Sleep through the cold night. Sleep, little bird, sleep. I’ll keep the door tight. When the dark goes prowling, and the shadows lean near, sleep, little bird, sleep, I am right here.
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