Lanterns in the Dark

[Intro — soft piano, close fragile vocal, almost whispered] Somewhere, a match is struck Somewhere, a window glows Somewhere, a trembling hand Lets go of what it holds [Verse 1 — intimate, emotional, restrained] I found a little flame Floating down the rain No name upon the water No shelter from the pain It flickered like a secret Too honest for the night A paper boat of thunder Carrying folded light And I don’t know who sent it Or what it cost to burn But it warmed the frozen places I thought would never learn [Pre-Chorus — build slowly, add low strings] One spark became a skyline One whisper found a choir One lonely heart threw silver Into someone else’s fire [Chorus — huge emotional lift, memorable hook] So I’ll raise my hands for the lanterns in the dark For the nameless little suns that teach the cold to start Every broken wing that learned to leave a mark I can see you I can see you Like lanterns in the dark [Post-Chorus — soaring background vocals] Oh-oh-oh Carry on, carry on Oh-oh-oh Burning after dawn [Verse 2 — more rhythmic, heartbeat drums enter] Some bloom like desert roses Some fall like winter rain Some sound like old cathedrals Crying through the frame Some dress their wounds in velvet Some hide them under gold Some turn a blue December Into something brave and bold And every little ember That trembles through the air Becomes a road for strangers Who thought no one was there [Pre-Chorus 2 — stronger build, choir begins softly] One storm became an ocean One shadow learned to sing One pair of tired shoulders Gave another soul its wings [Chorus — bigger, fuller drums and harmonies] So I’ll raise my hands for the lanterns in the dark For the nameless little suns that teach the cold to start Every broken wing that learned to leave a mark I can see you I can see you Like lanterns in the dark [Bridge — stripped piano, raw vocal, emotional pause] Maybe we are rivers Carrying the moon Maybe we are gardens Growing from a wound Maybe every echo Is a hand across the sea Maybe every midnight Leaves a key beneath the leaves [Build — rising percussion, choir swells, cinematic tension] So let the quiet thunder roll Let the hidden flowers climb Let the ashes turn to gold Let the bells remember time For every candle thrown Across the endless black For every voice that broke So others could come back [Final Chorus — massive emotional release, full band, choir, soaring lead vocal] I’ll raise my hands for the lanterns in the dark For the nameless little suns that teach the cold to start Every broken wing that learned to leave a mark I can see you I can see you I’ll raise my heart for the lanterns in the dark For the rain-soaked little flames still burning where they are Every silent wound that turned into a spark I can feel you I can feel you Like lanterns in the dark [Final Post-Chorus — choir and lead vocal call-and-response] Oh-oh-oh Carry on, carry on Oh-oh-oh Burning after dawn [Outro — soft piano returns, intimate and grateful without saying it directly] Somewhere, a match is struck Somewhere, the cold lets go Somewhere, because you burned A stranger makes it home