When At Night
Hayley Westenra Lyrics


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When at night I go to sleep,
Fourteen angels watch do keep:
Two my head are guarding,
Two my feet are guiding,
Two are on my right hand,
Two are on my left hand,
Two who warmly cover,
Two who o’er me hover,
Two to whom ‘tis given
To guide my steps to heaven.

When at night I go to sleep,
Fourteen angels watch do keep:
Two my head are guarding,
Two my feet are guiding,
Two are on my right hand,
Two are on my left hand,
Two who warmly cover,
Two who o’er me hover,




Two to whom ‘tis given
To guide my steps to heaven

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Hayley Westenra's song "When At Night" are a spiritual mantra of protection before going to sleep. The singer recites their faith in the guardianship of fourteen angels who keep watch over them. The angels are separated into pairs that guard and guide various parts of their body and soul. Two angels guard the singer's head while another duo guides their feet. Two more stand on their right hand while another set stands to the left, ensuring protection on both sides. The angels warmly cover the singer and hover over them, providing physical and emotional comfort, and reminding them of their spiritual protection. Finally, two angels act as guides to lead the singer's steps to heaven, signaling the end of their earthly journey.


The lyrics of "When At Night" communicate a strong sense of faith and comfort in the presence of spiritual beings. The singer acknowledges their vulnerability while they sleep and seeks protection in the angels' watchful presence. The song was first recorded by the Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebø on her album "Soria Moria" in 1994 before being translated into English by Tom Pacheco for Hayley Westenra's 2003 debut album "Pure."


Line by Line Meaning

When at night I go to sleep,
As I prepare myself for slumber at night,


Fourteen angels watch do keep:
I feel secure as I am being watched over by fourteen celestial beings,


Two my head are guarding,
Two angels are watchful and protective over my head,


Two my feet are guiding,
Two angels are guiding my feet to the right direction,


Two are on my right hand,
Two angels are present on my right side to aid me,


Two are on my left hand,
Two angels are on my left side to comfort me when I need it,


Two who warmly cover,
Two angels who provide a warm and protective embrace,


Two who o’er me hover,
Two hovering angels who watch over me and keep me safe,


Two to whom ‘tis given
Two angels who are given the responsibility,


To guide my steps to heaven.
To guarantee that I am led towards the path to eternal salvation.




Contributed by Lucy L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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