Garrett has performed across the whole world and has also sung opera and pop classics with Bryan Ferry, The Eurythmics and Mick Hucknall to celebrate the arrival of the new century on Millennium Eve, in the grounds at the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum.
She played the lead role of Hanna Glawari, in the Welsh National Opera's production of The Merry Widow, which toured the United Kingdom in 2005. As of November 2006, Garrett was performing as Mother Abbess for six months, in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music.
As a recording artist, Garrett has released eleven solo albums. Many of her albums have received gold and silver status. Soprano in Red received the Gramophone Award for "Best-selling Classical Artist of the Year". Garrett was also a featured artist on the platinum selling Perfect Day single released by the BBC in aid of Children in Need.
Garrett is a member of the board of the English National Opera. In 2002, she was awarded the CBE for services to music.
She is also a presenter on the UK commercial radio station "Classic FM".
Wishing You Were Somehow Here
Lesley Garrett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My one companion
You were all
That mattered
You were once
A friend and father
Then my world
Was shattered
Wishing you were
Somehow here again
Wishing you were
Somehow near
Sometimes it seemed
If I just dreamed,
Somehow you would
Be here
Wishing I could
Hear your voice again
Knowing that I
Never would
Dreaming of you
Won't help me to do
All that you dreamed
I could
Passing bells
And sculpted angels,
Cold and monumental,
Seem, for you,
The wrong companions
You were warm and gentle
Too many years
Fighting back tears
Why can't the past
Just die?
Wishing you were
Somehow here again
Knowing we must
Say goodbye
Try to forgive
Teach me to live
Give me the strength
To try
No more memories,
No more silent tears
No more gazing across
The wasted years
Help me say
Goodbye.
The song "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" by Lesley Garrett and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra can be interpreted as a powerful expression of grief and loss. The song describes the singer's longing for someone who was once their "one companion" and "all that mattered." The lyrics suggest that this person was not only a friend but also a parental figure, which makes their absence even more devastating. The singer wishes that they could somehow be reunited with this person, even if it means just dreaming about them. However, they realize that this is impossible and that they need to learn how to live without this person.
The song's bridge provides a vivid contrast between the singer's feelings and the surroundings. The "passing bells and sculpted angels" that surround them are described as "cold and monumental," which only makes the singer feel more isolated and alone. In contrast, the person they are mourning is remembered as being "warm and gentle." The lyrics then express the singer's frustration at having to deal with their grief for "too many years" and their desire to move on from the past and say goodbye.
Overall, the song is a poignant exploration of the pain of losing someone important and the difficulty of letting go. The lyrics suggest that while it's important to remember the past and cherish memories, it's also necessary to find a way to move forward and find the strength to live in the present.
Line by Line Meaning
You were once
There was a time when you were a significant part of my life
My one companion
You were my only companion
You were all
You were everything to me
That mattered
The most important thing to me
You were once
There was a time when you were
A friend and father
You were both a friend and a father figure to me
Then my world
But then everything changed
Was shattered
And my world fell apart
Wishing you were
I wish that you were
Somehow here again
Here with me once more
Wishing you were
I wish that you were
Somehow near
Close to me in some way
Sometimes it seemed
At times I thought that maybe
If I just dreamed,
If I only dreamt
Somehow you would
Then you might
Be here
Be here with me
Wishing I could
I wish I could
Hear your voice again
Hear your voice once more
Knowing that I
But I know
Never would
That I never will
Dreaming of you
But dreaming of you
Won't help me to do
Will not help me accomplish
All that you dreamed
All that you had hoped for me
I could
That I could achieve
Passing bells
The sound of funeral bells
And sculpted angels,
And angel statues
Cold and monumental,
Impersonal and imposing
Seem, for you,
May appear to you
The wrong companions
Inappropriate company for you
You were warm and gentle
You were kind and compassionate
Too many years
So many years
Fighting back tears
Holding back my tears
Why can't the past
Why can't the past
Just die?
Just fade away?
Wishing you were
I wish that you were
Somehow here again
Here with me once more
Knowing we must
Being aware that we must
Say goodbye
Say our final farewell
Try to forgive
Attempt to forgive
Teach me to live
Teach me how to carry on
Give me the strength
Provide me with the courage
To try
To keep going
No more memories,
No more reminiscing
No more silent tears
No more quietly shedding tears
No more gazing across
No more looking longingly over
The wasted years
The time that was wasted
Help me say
Assist me in expressing
Goodbye.
Farewell for good.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart, Richard Stilgoe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind