After singing at weddings for a few years, he joined with several other choristers to form a group named The Mistletones in 1980. He also sang the national anthems at Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs games since 1988 and continues to do so. From 1984 through 1992 he worked as a circulation representative for the Toronto Sun, Conrad Black heard him singing at company parties. Black, along with other executives, financed McDermott's independent recording of "Danny Boy" in 1992, which was picked up and released in North America by EMI Music Canada. Following this unexpected success, McDermott decided to pursue a professional singing career.
John has annual concerts world wide, and can be seen from Toronto, to Boston, to New York, to Glasgow.
McDermott performed his first concert at the Rebecca Cohn Theatre on October 5, 1993 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. From there he continued to tour the rest of Canada, performing as an opening act for The Chieftains. Throughout 1994 he went on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, following the great success of Danny Boy, which had been ranked Number 1 on the charts there and achieved triple platinum in New Zealand. Next, in 1995 he went on a tour of the United Kingdom with The Seekers.
At this point in his career he was becoming recognized internationally, so he started to tour regularly as a solo act rather than an opening act. He also appeared at several special events including the D-Day ceremonies in France in 1995, and the US Democratic National Convention in 1996. He has also appeared on TV several times, both as a host of CBC Television concert specials in 1997, and in his own television special titled John McDermott: A Time to Remember which aired on PBS in 2002.
McDermott formed The Irish Tenors and after performing a large concert in Dublin, Ireland in 1998, they spent some time touring the US, appearing on TV, and releasing a gold record.
Since leaving The Irish Tenors, McDermott continues to tour extensively throughout the World, performing with his own group and with the great symphonies of the world. He continues to work to support the veteran community in the United States and in Canada. In 2000 McDermott dedicated McDermott House in Washington DC, a transitional home for homeless veterans. His latest release Journeys-Bringing Buddy Home was recorded to help support fundraising for Fisher House Boston and launch the Canadian initiative for an outreach centre for Canadian Veterans.
Guardian Angel
John McDermott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't be frightened by the night
Just let me be your guardian angel
You will be my guiding light
We've been on this road so long
And sometimes not know where we are
That's when I'd be your lost horizon
Praise slips out so easily
It may not sound sincere
But it only seems to come to me
Whenever you are near
So thank you for the joy ou bring
Thank you for your love each night
I'll always be your guardian angel
Always be my guiding light
When the sun is far too strong
When the wind is cold as ice
That's when I'll be your life's oasis
You will be my paradise
So thank you for the joy you bring
Thank you for your love each night
I'll always be your guardian angel
Always be my guiding light
Yes I'll always be your guardian angel
As long as you'll be my guiding light
In John McDermott's song "Guardian Angel," the lyrics express the singer's deep affection and devotion to a loved one. The song opens with an assurance that the listener need not fear the darkness, as the singer wants to be their guardian angel and provide guidance. There is a sense of companionship and journeying together throughout the song. The second stanza suggests that the singer sees the listener as a destination or a paradise, as they have been on a road for a long time, but with the listener, they have found their Shangri La.
The lyrics are full of gratitude, and the singer thanks the listener for bringing them joy and love each night. The appreciation expressed in the song is genuine, and the singer acknowledges that it may not always sound sincere, but it comes naturally whenever the listener is around. The final stanza reiterates the promise to be the listener's guardian angel as long as they will be the guiding light of the singer's life.
The song gives a sense of an enduring love that is based on mutual support and trust. The use of the image of a guardian angel is a powerful and protective symbol that assures the intended recipient that they are cared for and watched over. Overall, "Guardian Angel" is a beautiful song with heartwarming lyrics that express immense love and appreciation.
Line by Line Meaning
Now that we have come this far
We have made it through so much together, and we have come a long way.
Don't be frightened by the night
Don't be scared of the unknown or what the future may hold.
Just let me be your guardian angel
Allow me to take care of you and protect you from harm.
You will be my guiding light
You help me find my way when I feel lost or unsure.
We've been on this road so long
We have been on this journey for a while now and faced many challenges.
And sometimes not know where we are
Occasionally, we may feel lost or unsure of our whereabouts.
That's when I'd be your lost horizon
In those moments, I would try to guide you and help you find your way.
You would be my Shangri La
You are my peaceful and happy place, my paradise.
Praise slips out so easily
I sometimes naturally and effortlessly express my admiration for you.
It may not sound sincere
You may doubt the genuineness of my words of admiration.
But it only seems to come to me
I can't help but express how I feel about you whenever I'm around you.
Whenever you are near
Your presence has a positive impact on my mood and behavior.
So thank you for the joy you bring
I appreciate the happiness you bring to my life.
Thank you for your love each night
I am grateful for your affection that you express to me every night.
I'll always be your guardian angel
I vow to always look out for you and keep you safe from harm.
Always be my guiding light
I hope you continue to guide me and shine light on my path as we move forward together.
When the sun is far too strong
In challenging times when things get difficult.
When the wind is cold as ice
In times of emotional hardship when it feels impossible to cope.
That's when I'll be your life's oasis
I'll be the sanctuary and refuge you need to rest and recharge.
You will be my paradise
You are my happy, safe place, my haven from the storms of life.
Yes I'll always be your guardian angel
I will always be there for you, to protect and guide you.
As long as you'll be my guiding light
And I hope you continue leading me towards the right path in life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARIF COOPER, R. CLARKE, X DAVIDSON, A. MCCALLA, C. THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Morrigan KASA
beautiful song perfect the way it is
Jack Nichols
Beautiful song! I feel great😃
ShyMoonheart
Such a sweet love song. Beautifully performed by John.
Morrigan KASA
This song is so wonderful and helpful to people who are scared/depressed at least it helped me with those things
LadyGreyCarolyn
Kory St. Aoro And I hope music will be enough to heal you, whatever it's that make you suffer!
LadyGreyCarolyn
Kory St. Aoro Indeed it's true what you say in both your comments!
Morrigan KASA
this song can be with a small tweak be a friendship song, currently it is either a romance song or a religious song depending on your feeling and views
Joseph Madawela
beautiful and comforting, thanks
2beniek
Witaj Paola. Miło posłuchać kolejnej pięknej piosenki John McDermott. Fotka - sztorm śliczna. Pozdrawiam, miłego weekendu życzę:) Beniek
BenBill1000
Piękna piosenka. Pozdrawiam:) B.