keep the light

[Verse 1 - solo warm wise female vocal, fingerpicked acoustic guitar only, intimate like a lullaby, soft] I've watched a hundred gardens grow I've seen them bend, I've seen them break I've held the hands of little ones Who didn't know what was at stake This world will test the strongest wall The wind will push, the rain will fall But darling, that's not why we built it tall — We built it so it stands for all [Chorus - same warm female vocal alone, gentle, acoustic guitar slightly fuller, tender] Keep the light, keep it burning One more night, one more morning Pass it on to the next in line This lantern, child, was mine Now it's yours — keep the light [Verse 2 - low warm male harmony vocal joins, gentle bass enters, slowly building] Every promise is a pebble And the pile gets heavy fast So be careful what you borrow From the ones who come here last Don't sign a name that isn't yours Don't spend a seed you didn't plant The children coming after you Are counting on the ones who can't [Chorus - soft drums join, fuller arrangement, both voices, growing warmth] Keep the light, keep it burning One more night, one more morning Pass it on to the next in line This lantern, child, was mine Now it's yours — keep the light [Bridge - spoken word, warm wise female voice, music drops to soft guitar, heartfelt] You know what a family is? It's the smallest garden there is. Just a few people who decided — we're going to take care of each other. And if you can do that — if you can keep that one little garden alive — then the big garden has a chance. [Verse 3 - voices join one at a time, each line adds a new voice, building layered harmonies, emotional crescendo] The ground will hold... The wings will grow... The hive will hum... The fields will show... My voice will carry... We'll build it right... And all of us — will keep the light [Final Chorus - full band, children's choir, biggest emotional moment, triumphant and hopeful, campfire to cathedral] Keep the light, keep it burning One more night, one more morning Pass it on to the next in line This lantern, child, was mine Now it's yours Keep the light, keep it burning Every garden keeps on learning Pass it on and don't look back Hold it high and light the track Keep the light — keep the light [Outro - spoken word, warm wry male voice, music fading to just acoustic guitar] Seven friends. Seven songs. One garden. And it's still growing. [Whispered warm female voice, final words] It always will be. As long as you tend it. [Final guitar note rings out, silence]