Track 2 of the album Lights Half Down · 2026
The Clock Can Keep the Hours Now
“Forty years of morning bells and coffee, and the clock can finally rest. I wrote it for a retiring teacher and she cried at the soundcheck.”
jazz · retirement song · cosy jazz · 2:47
Lyrics
Forty years of morning bells Forty years of coffee smells Handed in my badge today Walked out slow the quiet way The clock can keep the hours now I'll keep the afternoon Slippers on and nothing planned A little tea, a little tune Colleagues waved and wished me well Cake was sweet and cards were swell Now the house is soft and still Sunlight resting on the sill The clock can keep the hours now I'll keep the afternoon Slippers on and nothing planned A little tea, a little tune I thought I'd miss the rush and hum But here's the quiet, here it comes A garden, a book, a long slow day Time is mine to give away Tomorrow I will sleep till nine Maybe longer, that is fine Watch the birds and watch the rain Start my life all over again The clock can keep the hours now I'll keep the afternoon Slippers on and nothing planned A little tea, a little tune A little tea, a little tune