Something That Can Stay

[Verse 1] You showed me how to center clay With both my hands and all my weight I came in late from closing time And left with red earth on my sleeves You said, “don’t force it into shape; Let your thumbs find what it needs.” The wheel turned slow beneath the lights And something in me settled right [Pre-Chorus] Now i take the long way home Past the painted market stalls The town square’s waking into color As the evening gathers all [Chorus] I’m making something that can stay A little piece of what i feel You taught me how to give it room And let the crooked edges heal When the sun goes gold above the square And voices rise from everywhere I know i found my hands, my way I’m making something that can stay [Verse 2] The first bowl leaned a little left The next one held its shape just fine A child picked out a cobalt cup And traced the rim with one small thumb You laughed and said, “that’s what it’s for— To meet the hands that haven’t come.” I watched the market lanterns bloom While kiln-warm colors filled the room [Pre-Chorus] You never called it talent You just asked me what i saw A curve like the hill beyond the buses A blue like old enamel signs [Chorus] I’m making something that can stay A little piece of what i feel You taught me how to give it room And let the crooked edges heal When the sun goes gold above the square And voices rise from everywhere I know i found my hands, my way I’m making something that can stay [Bridge] Next week i’ll teach the evening class To turn a lump of earth to form I’ll tell them what you told me first: “Take your time; the hands learn more.” And when the last warm light slips down We’ll carry our small wonders through town [Final chorus] We’re making something that can stay A little piece of what we feel You showed me how to give it room Now i can help the next hands heal As the sun slips low beyond the square And every stall packs up its wares I know i found my hands, my way We’re making something that can stay [Outro] You showed me where the clay begins I’ll pass it on, and start again