Track 6 of the album Candle Down · 2019
The Photograph in the Piano Lid
“I found a photograph in the lid of the church-hall piano, corners soft, and nobody would tell me who it was. So I made up a life for her.”
jazz ballad · church-hall piano · nostalgic ballad · 4:08
Lyrics
Found a photograph in the piano lid Corners soft from the years it hid Six of us standing in the club's back light Laughing at something, I forget what There's the drummer with his sleeves rolled high There's the bass man winking at the sky And me in a dress I have long outgrown Singing like I'd never be alone Hold it to the lamp, hold it to the light Every face still here on a quiet night The music stopped but the picture plays Soft as brushes on the old days Somebody's hand on my shoulder there I can almost feel it in the air Who took the picture, I cannot say But they caught us all on our best day Hold it to the lamp, hold it to the light Every face still here on a quiet night The music stopped but the picture plays Soft as brushes on the old days Time takes the names but it leaves the grin Takes the room but it leaves us in One small square of a long-gone song And I hum along, I hum along Hold it to the lamp, hold it to the light Every face still here on a quiet night The music stopped but the picture plays Soft as brushes on the old days Back in the lid where the old keys sleep A little light that I get to keep