The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is made up of some 360 men and women, all of whom are volunteers. There are many husband-wife combinations and many families have participated in the choir for generations. Choir members are currently limited to twenty years of participation, allowing new members to join the choir on a regular basis.
The choir was founded in August 1847, one month after the Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. The choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to support their organization. Choir members are not paid for their participation or performances.
Although the choir has traditionally been recognized for its sound quality, the most recent director, Craig Jessop, a student of Robert Shaw, has made changes designed to improve the overall quality of the choir. Jessop's efforts to add vitality to the choir's sound include the formation of The Orchestra at Temple Square, the 2005 addition of The Bells on Temple Square (a hand bell choir), and continual refinement of the choir's tone, enunciation, and repetoire. The minimum age for participation has been reduced from 30 to 25. In addition, new choir members participate in The Temple Square Chorale training choir, a combination music theory/performance school led by associate director and composer/arranger Mack Wilberg.
All Through the Night
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For I'm always so alone till the day draws to an end,
But when the sun goes down and the moon comes through,
To the monotone of the evening's drone I'm all alone with you.
All through the night,
I delight in your love,
All through the night you're so close to me!
From a height far above,
You and your love brings me ecstasy!
When dawn comes to waken me,
You're never there at all!
I know you've forsaken me
Till the shadows fall,
But then once again I can dream, I've the right
To be close to you all through the night.
In this song, the singer explores the contrast between the loneliness of day and the comfort of night. The day is an enemy because it highlights the singer's loneliness, whereas the night is a friend because it brings a sense of comfort and companionship. The singer is alone until the day ends, but when night falls, they are no longer alone because they feel the presence of their loved one. The singer describes being alone with their loved one to the "monotone of the evening's drone," which implies a peaceful and calming atmosphere.
Throughout the night, the singer delights in their loved one's presence and feels close to them. The words "all through the night" are repeated several times, emphasizing the importance of the night to the singer's emotional well-being. The singer feels a sense of ecstasy and happiness when they are with their loved one, even comparing their love to a height far above.
However, as morning comes, the singer feels abandoned and alone once again. They know their loved one has forsaken them until the shadows fall and night returns. Despite this, the singer still has the right to dream and feel close to their loved one all through the night.
Overall, the song highlights the power of love to provide comfort and companionship in even the darkest times.
Line by Line Meaning
The day is my enemy, the night my friend
I find solace in the night, as the day brings feelings of loneliness and despair.
For I'm always so alone till the day draws to an end
I feel isolated and secluded during the day, until the night embraces me with its calmness.
But when the sun goes down and the moon comes through
As the day transitions into night, I feel a sense of relief and comfort that comes with the moon's presence.
To the monotone of the evening's drone I'm all alone with you
In the stillness of the night, I feel like I am the only person left in the world, except for the one I love.
All through the night, I delight in your love
Throughout the night, I am filled with joy and happiness as I bask in the love I feel for you.
All through the night you're so close to me!
Throughout the night, I feel your presence close to me, as if you were right there next to me.
All through the night, from a height far above, you and your love brings me ecstasy!
Throughout the night, I feel an overwhelming sense of pleasure and happiness, as your love fills me up from above.
When dawn comes to waken me, you're never there at all!
As the morning comes and I awaken, I feel a sense of loss, as if you were never really there with me in the night.
I know you've forsaken me till the shadows fall
I understand that you are not able to be with me during the day, and that our love is confined to the realm of the night.
But then once again I can dream, I've the right to be close to you all through the night
Despite the physical distance between us during the day, I am able to dream and imagine being with you, feeling the warmth of your love, even while the sun is up.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: TUTTI CAMARATA, TRADITIONAL, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind