Eighty-four Candles

Track version #1

Track version #2

Eighty-four Candles

Verse 1

He walked where few would dare to look,
Between the breath, between the door,
Mapped the places we forget,
And left a lamp upon the floor.
He named the machine, not to judge,
But so we’d learn how to wake,
Gave us tools instead of answers,
And showed us how much is at stake.

Chorus

Eighty-four candles burning bright,
Each one a path, each one a light,
For those who wandered, lost or scared,
You left a map, you truly cared.
Not to follow, not to cling,
But to remember who we are,
Eighty-four candles, thank you friend,
For lighting stars inside the dark.

Verse 2

You spoke of death without a veil,
As teacher, friend, final guide,
Said, “Prepare now, don’t wait for later,”
So fear would not decide our side.
You painted angels in matchbox frames,
Turned small things into doors,
Showed that art can save a soul
And work is love, not chores.

Chorus

Eighty-four candles burning bright,
Each one a signal in the night,
For those who listened, those who tried,
You stood there steady, side by side.
No promises of heaven made,
Just practice, presence, truth and care,
Eighty-four candles, thank you friend,
For showing us how to prepare.

Verse 3

You built no throne, no golden seat,
But tables where we all could work,
Where team is greater than the self,
And seeing through became the perk.
From books to songs, from rocks to prayers,
From worlds both real and virtual,
You gave us methods, not beliefs,
So waking up stayed practical.

Verse 4

From science fiction galaxies,
To painting’s splash and jazz-lit art,
From Gorebagg’s games and studio nights,
To books of wisdom, line by heart.
From “Legion of the Lost” you sang,
With laughter clearing fear,
You taught us teamwork, taught team play,
That team is more than self, right here.

Bridge

You said, “Don’t copy, verify.
Don’t worship, see.”
You teach by example, always present, always here.
You taught us trust our instinct, then verify and see,
And put the team before the self, what real work has to be.
You trusted us with freedom,
Responsibility.
You gave the hardest gift of all:
The work we must do on our own,
Yet never left us without light
Or tools to bring it home.

Final Chorus

Eighty-four candles burning bright,
Each one reflects another life,
Touched, awakened, gently turned
Toward the fire we almost burned.
No end to what you’ve set in motion,
No measure for what you gave,
Eighty-four candles, still the flame,
Still teaching us how to stay awake.

Outro

So we hold the light you handed down,
Not as memory, but as flame,
Happy Birthday, teacher, friend,
The work goes on… and speaks your name.

Eighty-four years
not as time, but as service.

May the light you set in motion
continue to wake hearts,
and may you receive today
the gratitude from all of us.