[Verse 1] Kia ora in the hallway – Fist bumps, eyes up, call their names. Every story lands heavy – All they want is one kind word from me Then the office door clicks shut And the colour drains away I get half a second of honest Before I hear that handle shake [Pre-Chorus] Wish the world would move much faster Wish the good guys always won But mercy works in tiny moments One by one by one by one (one by one, one by one) [Chorus] Smile on (smile on) lights on (lights on) Step into the frames Keep the room bright Keep the storm out for a day Hold the line hold the landing – Be the calm they need tonight Keep the cracks behind the curtain So there’s still light to give away Smile on (smile on) lights on (lights on) You can make it through today (today, today) [Verse 2] I wanna fix it with a sentence Like a key turned in a lock But some damage lives in houses They can never walk out of So I deal in little mercies Little islands in the day Open door and borrowed breathing Till the worst has passed away [Pre-Chorus | shift to minor key | same as before, stronger backing vocal support] Wish the world would move much faster Wish the good guys always won But mercy works in tiny moments One by one by one by one (one by one, one by one) [Chorus | return to Major key | bigger energy, fuller harmonies, light adlibs around the hook] Smile on (smile on) lights on (lights on) Step into the frame Keep the room bright Keep the storm out for a day Hold the line hold the landing – Be the calm they need tonight Keep the cracks behind the curtain So there’s still light to give away Smile on (smile on) lights on (lights on) You can make it through today (today, today) [Bridge] Like a hummingbird at midnight No such thing as letting go Every second I stay flying Is another soul that knows There is somewhere they can land now There is somewhere warm and bright So I beat these little wings raw Just to keep us off the ground tonight (keep flying) (keep flying) [Final Chorus] Smile on (smile on) lights on (lights on) Step into the frame Keep the room bright Keep the storm out for a day Hold the line hold the landing – Be the calm they need tonight Keep the cracks behind the curtain So there’s still light to give away Smile on (smile on) lights on (lights on) You can make it through today (today, today) [Outro] Smile on (smile on) lights on (lights on) You can make it through today Smile on lights ooooooon
