The boys who make up the vocal band Libera have been described as “normal” and “ordinary.” However, as their recordings and performances demonstrate, the music they produce is truly extraordinary. With shimmering, mystical chords and ecstatic harmonies, they are unlike any other group you have ever heard. These are truly sounds to lift the soul, celestial sounds for a new time.
The singers of Libera, who are aged seven to sixteen, attend many different local schools in South London and come from a variety of backgrounds. Although they are boys and they sing, they do not think of themselves as choirboys, but rather as an alternative kind of boy band.
While the unique sound of Libera may be impossible to pigeonhole, its universal appeal has endeared the group to fans all over the world, particularly in the US, the UK, Korea and Japan, where their CDs top the mainstream and classical charts and where they pack concert halls appearing in their trademark flowing white robes on imaginatively lit stages.
Lead Kindly Light
Libera Lyrics
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Lead thou me on
The night is dark and I am far from home
Lead thou me on
Keep thou my feet, I do not ask to see the distant scene,
One step enough for me
O lux aeterna, lead thou me on
So long thy power has blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent 'til
The night is gone
And with the morn those angel faces smile
Which I have loved long since and lost a while
The night is dark and I am far from home
Lead Thou me home
The opening line of Libera's song Lead Kindly Light, "Lead, kindly light amid the encircling gloom," expresses a deep yearning for guidance and direction in life's journey. The imagery used in the lyrics suggests a sense of being lost and directionless in the midst of darkness and confusion. The singer is asking for the light to lead them on as they navigate the unknown terrain. The subsequent lines repeat this plea for divine help, emphasizing the singer's vulnerability and dependence on a greater power. The phrase "keep thou my feet" suggests not only guidance but also protection and safety, as the singer is surrounded by dangers and uncertainties.
The song's chorus invokes the Latin phrase "O lux aeterna" which translates to "eternal light," reinforcing the idea of divine illumination and immortality. The use of the term "lux beata" (blessed light) also emphasizes the singer's gratitude and reverence towards this guiding force. Despite the difficulties and challenges faced on the journey, the singer remains hopeful and confident of the light's continued presence and assistance. The final lines of the song envision a homecoming and reunion with lost loved ones. The ultimate goal of the journey is not merely survival or achievement but a sense of belonging and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Lead, kindly light amid the encircling gloom
Please guide me, oh merciful light, through the darkness that surrounds me
Lead thou me on
Please keep leading me forward
The night is dark and I am far from home
It's too dark for me to see where I'm going and I'm far from familiar surroundings
Lead thou me on
Please keep leading me forward
Keep thou my feet, I do not ask to see the distant scene,
Help me take one step at a time, I don't need to see the bigger picture right now
One step enough for me
All I need is to take one step at a time
O lux aeterna, lead thou me on
Oh eternal light, please continue to guide me forward
O lux beata, lead, kindly light, lead me on
Oh blessed light, please continue to guide me forward with kindness
So long thy power has blest me, sure it still
Your power has guided me for so long, and I know it will continue to do so
Will lead me on
I trust that you will keep guiding me
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent 'til
Over fields and marshes, over rocky terrain and rushing water, until
The night is gone
The darkness disappears
And with the morn those angel faces smile
In the morning, I will see the joyful faces of those who have passed away
Which I have loved long since and lost a while
Whom I have loved for a long time but haven't seen in a while
The night is dark and I am far from home
It's too dark for me to see where I'm going and I'm far from familiar surroundings
Lead Thou me home
Please guide me back home, oh merciful Light
Writer(s): Prizeman Robert Gordon, Newman John Henry
Contributed by Audrey K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alexander Toporov
on Lacrymosa
Amazing!