Backyard Constellations

[Verse 1]

You’re hanging fairy lights

On that crooked backyard fence

Bare feet in the cool grass

Mouth full of clothespins

Laughing nonsense

I’m burning the garlic bread

You say it’s fine

We like it dark

We eat on the porch rail

Watch the neighbors’ windows spark

[Chorus]

Backyard constellations

In a sagging summer sky

All these tiny shining reasons

We never quite ask why

We get older

We get softer

Still we stay up way too late

Backyard constellations

Somehow everything feels straight

[Verse 2]

You trace out Orion

On the stain above the sink

Say “it looks like he’s dancing

Like he finally stopped to think”

There’s laundry on the railing

Half our plans stuck in the wash

You hum an old tune

Off-key

I swear it sounds like gloss

[Chorus]

Backyard constellations

Paper lanterns

Kitchen light

All these quiet

Crooked moments

Threading through a simple night

We get louder

Then fall silent

Let the crickets arbitrate

Backyard constellations

Make a mess feel kind of great

[Bridge]

[Harmonica and cello wander over a soft guitar figure]

You say

“promise me this isn’t

Just a phase we’ll misplace”

I say

“look at all these tiny suns

They learned our names

They know our face” (ooh)

[Chorus]

Backyard constellations

Clipped-up wishes

Candle wax

You lean into my shoulder

Like we’re sharing one small back

We get tired

We get tender

Still we open up the gate

Backyard constellations

Let the ordinary wait