Clearance in the Joint

[Verse 1]
We are stone masons sanding down the edges of the slate
Every sharp angle catching on the friction that we make
Instead of throwing hammers when the mortar turns to dust
We sweep up the powder and rebuild the mutual trust
Tense fingers on the grain, learning how to yield
Softening the friction on an unplowed field

[Chorus]
Give a little clearance to the joint!
Let the timber breathe, let the archway curve!
Syncopated friction giving way to the grace we preserve!
Clearance in the joint!
Give a little room for the frame to shift!
Building up the world through a quiet, steady gift!
Clearance in the joint!
Let the timber breathe, let the archway curve!

[Verse 2]
Planed wood sliding past the pins without a single split
Leaving space for expansion where the heavy joists fit
A tight fit shatters when the seasons start to turn
It's the yield in the grain where the structure learns
Clipped rhythms in the floor, steady as we lay
Smoothing out the timber for a better day

[Chorus]
Give a little clearance to the joint!
Let the timber breathe, let the archway curve!
Syncopated friction giving way to the grace we preserve!
Clearance in the joint!
Give a little room for the frame to shift!
Building up the world through a quiet, steady gift!
Clearance in the joint!
Let the timber breathe, let the archway curve!

[Bridge]
Odd meters turn on the carpenter's lathe
Knots in the pine, but the chisel is brave
A sudden shift in time, a leap in five and seven
Pared down rough spots under an open sky

[Chorus]
Give a little clearance to the joint!
Let the timber breathe, let the archway curve!
Syncopated friction giving way to the grace we preserve!
Clearance in the joint!
Give a little room for the frame to shift!
Building up the world through a quiet, steady gift!
Clearance in the joint!
Let the timber breathe, let the archway curve!

[Outro]
Clearance in the joint.
Softened timber, steady home.
Grace in the grain.