The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a large choir of The Church of Jesus Christ … Read Full Bio ↴The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a large choir of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons). Since July 15, 1929, the choir has performed a weekly radio broadcast called Music and the Spoken Word which is the longest-running continuous network broadcast in the world. The show has been televised since the early 1960s and is now broadcast worldwide through some 1,500 radio, television, and cable stations.

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.

Bring Him Home
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

God on high
Hear my prayer
In my need
You have always been there
He is young
He's afraid
Let him rest
Heaven blessed.

Bring him home
Bring him home
Bring him home.
He's like the son I might have known
If God had granted me a son.
The summers die
One by one
How soon they fly
On and on
And I am old
And will be gone.
Bring him peace
Bring him joy
He is young
He is only a boy
You can take
You can give
Let him be
Let him live
If I die, let me die
Let him live
Bring him home

Bring him home
Bring him home.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Bring Him Home" from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's song convey a heartfelt prayer from a father figure to God. The song is based on the context of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's musical "Les Misérables." The singer pleads to God, addressing Him as "God on high," acknowledging His omnipotence and asking for His attention. In a moment of vulnerability, the singer acknowledges his need for God's presence, emphasizing that God has always been there for him in times of need.

The father figure speaks of a young person, possibly a son, who is afraid and in need of rest. He asks God to bless and protect this young individual, bringing him back home. The singer reflects on how this young person represents the son he might have had if God had granted him one. The passing of time is lamented, as the summers seem to fly by, and the singer acknowledges his own aging and impending departure.

The plea for God to bring peace and joy to this young person suggests they are going through a difficult time. The singer implores God to allow this individual to live and experience life fully. A poignant moment occurs in the lyrics when the father figure expresses his willingness to die if it means ensuring the young person's continued existence. This profound sacrifice highlights the depth of love and concern he feels for the young one.

Overall, "Bring Him Home" is a powerful prayer for protection, peace, and a wish for a loved one to return home safely. The song beautifully captures the emotional weight that comes with longing for the well-being and happiness of someone dear.

Line by Line Meaning

God on high
Omnipotent deity, reigning above all

Hear my prayer
Listen to my plea

In my need
During my desperate moments

You have always been there
Your constant presence has never wavered

He is young
He is lacking in life experience

He's afraid
Fear has gripped his heart

Let him rest
Grant him a moment of tranquility

Heaven blessed.
Bestowed with divine favor

Bring him home
Reunite him with his loved ones

Bring him home
Bring him back to safety

Bring him home.
Restore him to his rightful place

He's like the son I might have known
He resembles the child I could have had

If God had granted me a son.
If the divine had gifted me with a male offspring

The summers die
The seasons of youth fade away

One by one
Sequentially, passing by

How soon they fly
How swiftly they soar

On and on
Continuously progressing

And I am old
I have reached an advanced age

And will be gone.
Soon departing from this mortal realm

Bring him peace
Grant him serenity

Bring him joy
Bestow upon him happiness

He is young
In his youthful prime

He is only a boy
Merely an adolescent

You can take
You possess the ability to remove

You can give
You possess the ability to provide

Let him be
Allow him to exist as he is

Let him live
Allow him to experience life fully

If I die, let me die
In the case of my demise, grant me eternal rest

Let him live
Allow him to continue his journey

Bring him home
Reunite him with his loved ones

Bring him home
Bring him back to safety

Bring him home.
Restore him to his rightful place

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alain Albert Boublil, Claude Michel Schonberg, Herbert Kretzmer

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS