Matchstick scratched on a sidewalk crack
Gonna push away all the dark
Streetlights don't shine when the power's out
But we've got a little spark
A dry brush fire in the stony field
Right next to the junior high
Chewing on instant oatmeal mix
And staring up at a brilliant sky

A blank sheet bigger than it's ever been
Little stars sticking through like the head of a pin
Makes me remember my cardboard rocket
And astronaut dreams back when I was ten
My heart's still stuck on that giant sheet
So I'm taking in everything I can see
Wondering who's staring down at me
Blank sky looking back at my too-dark street

And it'll fall
Star by shooting star
And we'll raise our hands
To catch 'em in a little jar
Like fireflies flashing in the summer street
We'll collect red giants and save their heat
Hiding them away 'til the winter days
'Cause we'll need the blaze when the sun retreats
When the wind comes in all white and stark
We'll fly our kites in Mimosa Park
Dangling our stars from the tails they got
And lighting up our whole block
Next time the power's out

Heard some banging in an old garage
From a house covered up in rust
Out came a man in camoflauge
And he walked up next to us
The grey-haired veteran shook our hands
And he strained his ancient brow
Then we listened to his homemade radio
So we could hear what's going down

A man in space was behind the mic
He said they can't get the generators working right
He saw cities going black all across the world
Tucked in and curled up for a silent night
He said a message came back from ground control
And he's telling it to us before it gets too cold:

"Batteries still seem to work okay
And they're thinking this'll pass in a couple of days
So just stay calm and we'll all be fine
I'll repeat this message while I've got time
But I'm living on a backup battery line
So if the power cuts out give my love to my wife"

'Cause I'll fall
One more shooting star
So raise up your hands
To catch me in a little jar
Like a firefly flashing in the summer street
Bottle up my heart and save its beat
Hiding it away 'til the winter days
'Cause she'll need the blaze when the sun retreats
When the wind comes in all white and stark
Go fly your kites in Mimosa Park
Dangling my heart from the tails they got
And lighting up our whole block
Next time the power's out