Neil and Roger had been singing together as a duo in West Yorkshire since 1966 whilst John burst upon the folk scene a little later in 1972 as a member of Hebric. John, who has a voice similar to Paul Robeson also sings with the local operatic society in Halifax and is a member of The Bradshaw Mummers who can be seen in quaint outfits throughout most summers at various festivals acting out the important chapters of English history. John sang lead bass with Northern Ballet at Leeds Playhouse for the winter season of Mozart’s Requiem. Meanwhile Joe Stead had begun a professional career in London in 1966 which eventually took him to various parts of the world and more recently the first Valparaiso Festival of the Sea in Chile. Joe has performed in concert in America with Pete Seeger twice and also sung at a garden party with Paul Robeson in London in 1958. Neil also sang in concert with Pete Seeger when he and Joe crossed the Atlantic with Paul Downes to perform in a concert in New Jersey to raise funds for the Delaware Valley River Project.
There are now two new members in the group. David Buckley joined Kimber's Men at the end of April 2006. David is an actor and a singer who has performed in musicals and with the Halifax Operatic Society. They found him playing the part of Captain Smith in 'Titanic the Musical'. David sings tenor harmony. He has recently written a song called 'I will always be there' which may become as popular as 'Don't take the heroes'.
In June 2007 Kimber's Men increased their number to 5 when 'Gaz' joined the quartet.
Darkest before the dawn
Kimber's Men Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This thought keeps us moving on
If we can head these early warnings
We should make port before the morning
If we can head these early warnings
We should make port before the morning
Some say this hardship won't long endure
For there are those who hear our singing
We'll keep our sails high in the rigging
For there are those who hear our singing
We'll keep our sails high in the rigging
So we keep on while we live
Till we have no more to give
And when our voice can sing no longer
There will be others younger stronger
And when our voice can sing no longer
There will be others younger stronger
We'll plot our charts, we'll trim our sails
Through mighty seas and heavy gails
Until we reach that safer landing
Where there is peace and understanding
Until we reach that safer landing
Where there is peace and understanding
Don't you know it's darkest before the dawn
This thought keeps us moving on
If we can head these early warnings
We will make port before the morning
If we can head these early warnings
We will make port before the morning
If we can head these early warnings
We will make port before the morning
In Kimber's Men's song Darkest before the dawn, the lyrics convey a message of hope and perseverance in the face of difficult times. The opening line, "They say it's darkest before the dawn," serves as a metaphor for the idea that sometimes things get worse before they get better. However, the singer encourages the listener to keep moving forward despite these hardships, suggesting that taking heed of early warnings will allow them to reach a safer destination before the morning.
The second verse acknowledges those who believe that difficult times will not be long-lasting, but counteracts this by emphasizing the importance of the community's support. The sailors affirm that they will continue to raise their sails and sing their songs, recognizing that their voices will not last forever but that there will always be others to carry on.
The final verse speaks of perseverance through rough seas and the rewards of reaching a place of peace and understanding. The repeated refrain throughout the song "If we can head these early warnings, we will make port before the morning" is a reminder that taking action and being aware of potential hazards can lead to a positive outcome.
Line by Line Meaning
They say it's darkest before the dawn
People often say that things will get worse before they get better.
This thought keeps us moving on
The belief that there is hope after hardship motivates us to keep going.
If we can head these early warnings
By paying attention to warning signs, we can avoid more serious problems in the future.
We should make port before the morning
If we take action to address potential issues, we can arrive safely at our destination.
Some say this hardship won't long endure
Some people believe that tough times won't last forever.
We ask makes them feel so sure
We question why these people think this way and whether their optimism is warranted.
For there are those who hear our singing
Despite our struggles, there are those who support us and take comfort in our efforts.
We'll keep our sails high in the rigging
We will remain positive and hopeful, even in difficult situations.
So we keep on while we live
We persist and persevere as long as we are alive.
Till we have no more to give
We give all of our effort and energy until we are no longer able to do so.
And when our voice can sing no longer
When we can no longer contribute, we will rely on the next generation to continue the fight.
There will be others younger stronger
New generations will have the energy and strength to carry on where we left off.
We'll plot our charts, we'll trim our sails
We will carefully plan and prepare for our journey, adjusting as needed along the way.
Through mighty seas and heavy gails
Despite facing significant challenges, we will persevere and continue forward.
Until we reach that safer landing
We will keep going until we reach a place of safety and security.
Where there is peace and understanding
Our ultimate destination is a place where there is peace and mutual understanding.
Don't you know it's darkest before the dawn
We must remember that things may seem difficult before they improve.
This thought keeps us moving on
The belief that there is hope after hardship motivates us to keep going.
If we can head these early warnings
By paying attention to warning signs, we can avoid more serious problems in the future.
We will make port before the morning
If we take action to address potential issues, we can arrive safely at our destination.
If we can head these early warnings
By paying attention to warning signs, we can avoid more serious problems in the future.
We will make port before the morning
If we take action to address potential issues, we can arrive safely at our destination.
If we can head these early warnings
By paying attention to warning signs, we can avoid more serious problems in the future.
We will make port before the morning
If we take action to address potential issues, we can arrive safely at our destination.
Writer(s): Seeger
Contributed by Landon T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Galliciano
still love this song and his voice
Galliciano
I like his voice so much