For 30 years Allan Taylor has been considered as the consummate performer, a writer of literary gracefulness whose troubadour chronicles encapsulate the realism of otherwise unsung heroes, otherwise uncharted lives. His songs are faultlessly constructed and flawlessly performed, with his instantly recognizable voice, attractively dark and mellow, accompanied by his intricately detailed yet full-sounding guitar.
The Stranger
Allan Taylor Lyrics
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And he stood as if lost in a dream.
His smile was as sad as a true love denied
And his voice was a song in the wind.
I have travelled for many-a-mile
And my journey I cannot delay,
But I must rest for a while
And tomorrow I'll be on my way.
Give me fire to keep out the cold.
Close the shirters and make farse the door.
Give me food for the night and a candle for light
And I will make up my bed on the floor.
I have nothing to give for my keep
And your favours I cannot repay,
But a gift is not measured in silver and gold ...
It's a memory that's treasured each day.
The stranger arose with the dawn
And he shouldered his travelling load.
Without making a sound he took one look around
And the stranger – he took to the road.
When the cold wind hounds in the night
And the rain beats hard on the door,
A voice in the wind seems to echo again
And the stranger is travelling once more,
The Stranger by Allan Taylor talks about a stranger who wanders in through the night and appears lost in a dream. The stranger is sad, and his voice is like the wind when he speaks. The stranger shares that he has traveled many miles and cannot delay his journey, but he must rest for a while because he is cold and weary.
The stranger humbly requests for fire, food, and light to rest for the night. He does not have anything to give in return for these favors but believes that a gift is not measured in silver or gold, but it’s the memory that is treasured each day. The stranger spends the night resting on the floor and leaves early in the morning without making any sound.
The song speaks to the idea that people come and go in our lives. Sometimes, these people are just strangers who only rest for a while, but they leave a memory that we treasure. The song also touches on the theme of humility, as the stranger does not demand anything from the people who have taken him in but instead humbly requests for his basic needs.
Line by Line Meaning
A stranger came in from the night
An unknown person arrived during the night.
And he stood as if lost in a dream.
He appeared to be confused and disorientated.
His smile was as sad as a true love denied
His grin expressed sorrow and heartbreak.
And his voice was a song in the wind.
His voice was melodious and carried by the breeze.
I have travelled for many-a-mile
I have journeyed for miles on end.
And my journey I cannot delay,
I cannot prolong my expedition.
But I must rest for a while
Nonetheless, I need to rest.
For I'm weary and cold
I'm exhausted and cold.
And tomorrow I'll be on my way.
The next day, I will continue my travels.
Give me fire to keep out the cold.
Provide me with heat to fend off the chill.
Close the shutters and make farse the door.
Seal the entrances and secure them tightly.
Give me food for the night and a candle for light
Offer me sustenance for the evening and light to see.
And I will make up my bed on the floor.
I will prepare a place to sleep on the ground.
I have nothing to give for my keep
I'm unable to provide anything in return for my stay.
And your favours I cannot repay,
I cannot repay your kindness.
But a gift is not measured in silver and gold ...
But presents should not be evaluated based on their monetary worth...
It's a memory that's treasured each day.
...But on how meaningful the memories attached to them are.
The stranger arose with the dawn
The stranger stood up as the sun began to rise.
And he shouldered his travelling load.
He lifted his belongings and began his journey once more.
Without making a sound he took one look around
Silently, he glanced in every direction.
And the stranger – he took to the road.
The stranger started walking along the path.
When the cold wind hounds in the night
During a chilly, windy night
And the rain beats hard on the door,
With the rain pounding harshly against the door
A voice in the wind seems to echo again
The sound of a voice in the wind resonates once more
And the stranger is travelling once more,
Prompting the stranger to resume his travels once more.
Contributed by Jack J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.