Chords & Lyrics (6/8 feel; each “|” ~ one bar unless noted) Verse 1 | C | G/B | Am | G | I am Ian, five and small, | F | C/E | Dm | G | shoes by doors and whispers fall. | C | G/B | Am | G | Draw a sun with yellow crayon, | F | C/E | Dm | G | hum a tune the words can’t say on. | C | G/B | Am | G | I don’t talk, I tap my spoon, | F | C/E | Dm | G | count to five and hum a tune. | C | G/B | Am | G | Kitchen clocks go tick then later, | F | G | C | C | paper birds and one paper airplane. Pre-Chorus | Em | Am | F | G | If I could stitch the sky back tight, | Em | Am | F | G | button up the afternoon to light, Chorus | C | Am | F | G | I don’t have words, but I have oohs, | C/E | F | G | C | mmm-mmm, la-la, I send to you. | C | Am | F | G | Mama, see this air-plane fly, | C/E | F | G | C | aimed at your window in the sky. (Ad-lib choir: “ooo… la-la-la… mmm…”) Verse 2 | C | G/B | Am | G | Neighbors bring the sad casseroles, | F | C/E | Dm | G | folded hands and quiet bowls. | C | G/B | Am | G | I stack blocks, I line up trains, | F | C/E | Dm | G | flute birds singing through the rain. | C | G/B | Am | G | I am Ian, five and trying, | F | C/E | Dm | G | count my heart when eyes are crying. | C | G/B | Am | G | Tap the table: one-two-three, | F | G | C | C | hold the part where you held me. Pre-Chorus | Em | Am | F | G | If I could make my humming talk, | Em | Am | F | G | I’d say your name with every walk, Chorus | C | Am | F | G | I don’t have words, but I have oohs, | C/E | F | G | C | mmm-mmm, la-la, I send to you. | C | Am | F | G | Mama, see this air-plane fly, | C/E | F | G | C | aimed at your window in the sky. Bridge (Communal “Freak-Folk” Round) (add handclaps on beat 4, flutes answer the lines) | Dm | G | C/E | F | Circle up, the living room, we | Dm | G | C | C | share the la-la-la for you. | Dm | G | C/E | F | I can’t speak, but I can be here, | Dm | G | C | C | hold my hands and sing me clear. Round/Call & Response (repeat 2–3x): Lead: “La-la-la, I am Ian” Choir answers: “La-la-la, we can hear him” Lead: “Mmm-mmm-mmm, little star” Choir: “Carry love from where you are” *(Optional passing color for 60s sparkle between repeats: | A7 | Dm |) Final Chorus | C | Am | F | G | I don’t have words, but I have oohs, | C/E | F | G | C | mmm-mmm, la-la, I send to you. | C | Am | F | G | Mama, catch my air-plane light, | C/E | F | G | C | I’ll keep humming you good-night. Hummed Outro | C | G/B | Am | G | F | C/E | Dm | G | C || (Flute countermelody; choir “mmm” fades.)
