C G Em Dm F G
[Verse]
C
They sat at each end of the couch
Em
And watched as the fire burned down
Dm
So quiet on this winter's night
F G
Not a porch light on for miles around
[Verse]
C
Then he said, "I think I'll fill the stove
Em
It's getting time for bed"
Dm
She looked up, "I think I'll have some wine
F G
How 'bout you?" she asked, and he declined
[Verse]
C
"Warren," she said
Em
"Maybe just for tonight
Dm
Let's fill the stove with birches
F G
And watch as the fire burns bright
[Verse]
C
How long has it been?
Em
It's been quite a while
Dm
Pour yourself half a glass and
F G
Stay with me a little while"
[Verse]
C
And Warren, he shook his head
Em
As if she'd made some kind of joke
Dm
"Birches? On a winter night?
F G
No, we'll fill the stove with oak"
[Verse]
C
"Oak will burn as long and hot
Em
As a July afternoon
Dm F
Birch will burn itself out
G
By the rising of the moon"
[Verse]
C
"And you hate a cold house same as me
Em
Am I right or not?"
Dm F
"All right, all right that's true"
G
She said, "It was just a thought"
[Verse]
C
Then she said, "Warren, you do look tired
Em
Maybe you should go up to bed
Dm
I'll take care of the wood tonight"
F G
"Oak", he told her, "Oak", she said
[Verse]
C
She listened to his footsteps
Em
As he climbed up the stairs
Dm
Then she pulled a sweater on her and
F G
Set her wine glass on a chair
[Verse]
C
She walked down the cellar to the wood-box
Em
It was cold as an ice chest
Dm F
Then climbed back up with four logs
G
Each as white as a wedding dress
[Verse]
C
And she filled the stove and poured the wine
Em
Then she sat down on the floor
Dm
She curled her legs beneath her
F G
As the fire sprang to life once more
[Verse]
C
And it filled the room with it's hungry light
Em
And it cracked as it drew air
Dm F
And the shadows danced a jittery waltz
G
Like no one else was there
[Verse]
C
She stood up in the heat, and
Em
She twirled around the room
Dm F
And the shadows, they saw nothing
G
But a young girl on her honeymoon
[Verse]
C
And she knew the time, it would be short
Em
Soon the fire would start to fade
Dm F
She thought of heat, she thought of time
G C
She called it an even trade
