Lyrics:

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