Frames of Us (For Barbara)

[Intro – soft acoustic guitar arpeggios, faint piano hum] (Instrumental Solo) [Verse 1 – warm guitar strums, light shaker rhythm] We stood in lines of neon and code Taping posters where the crowds would load Coffee cups stained with midnight ink SIGGRAPH signs where our memories link [Pre-Chorus – rising piano melody, subtle bassline] Years rolled by like reels on a screen Every frame a new in-between But through the rush and the last-minute fixes Your laugh was the constant that stuck to the mixes [Chorus 1 – full acoustic band, warm harmonies] Happy birthday to the one who held the crew together Through the late nights and the weather Frames of us in every booth and hall We’re still here, standing tall [Verse 2 – layered guitar, soft snare tap] You fixed the badges when the laces broke Calmed the chaos when the schedule choked Shared your snacks when the caterers bailed Turned the stress into stories we’d tell [Pre-Chorus 2 – brighter piano, building harmonies] Posters faded, tech evolved with time But your smile still outshines every new design We’ve seen the shows, the demos, the grand reveals But the best part was the way you made us feel [Chorus 2 – fuller band, soaring vocals] Happy birthday to the heart of our volunteer crew Through the decades, we stuck it through Frames of us in every year’s parade Our bond’s the best project we ever made [Bridge – stripped-back acoustic guitar, intimate vocals] We’ve got photos in old program books Inside jokes that still get us hooked Another candle, another year to share SIGGRAPH’s changed, but you’re still right there [Instrumental Solo – gentle piano solo, soft guitar backing] (Instrumental Solo) [Final Chorus – full band with string accents, maximum warmth] Happy birthday to the one who made it all feel like home Through the deadlines and the unknown Frames of us will never fade or rust Here’s to you, Barbara, the best of us [Outro – fading acoustic guitar, soft piano note] Frames of us, year after year Happy birthday, my dear