Stranger in Paradise
Richard Kiley Lyrics
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Whisper differently now?
And why is the nightingale singing at noon
On the Mulberry bow?
For some most mysterious reason
This isn't the garden I know
No, it's paradise now
That was only a garden
Take my hand
I'm a stranger in paradise
All lost in a wonderland
A stranger in paradise
If I stand starry-eyed
That's a danger in paradise
For mortals who stand beside
An angel like you
I saw your face
And I ascended
Out of the commonplace
Into the rare
Somewhere in space
I hang suspended
Until I know
There's a chance that you care
Won't you answer the fervent prayer
Of a stranger in paradise
Don't send me in dark despair
From all that I hunger for
But open your angel's arms
To the stranger in paradise
And tell him that he need be
A stranger no more
I saw your face
And I ascended
Out of the commonplace
Into the rare
Somewhere in space
I hang suspended
Until I know
There's a chance that you care
Won't you answer the fervent prayer
Of a stranger in paradise
Don't send me in dark despair
From all that I hunger for
But open your angel's arms
To the stranger in paradise
And tell me that I may be
A stranger no more
The lyrics of Richard Kiley's song "Stranger in Paradise" convey a sense of awe, wonder, and longing. The singer is captivated by a beautiful garden that has transformed into a heavenly paradise. The opening lines "Oh, why do the leaves on the Mulberry tree / Whisper differently now?" suggest that something magical and extraordinary has happened, as even nature seems to be whispering in a different way. The nightingale singing at noon on the Mulberry bow further emphasizes the surreal and enchanting atmosphere.
The singer then describes themselves as a stranger in paradise, lost in a wonderland. They acknowledge that being captivated and starry-eyed in such a heavenly place can be dangerous, especially when standing beside an angelic figure like the one they address. The singer's encounter with this angel has altered their perception of the world, elevating them from the ordinary to the rare. They feel suspended in space, yearning for a chance to know if the angel cares for them.
In the final stanza, the singer pleads for the angel to answer their fervent prayer and not leave them in dark despair. They express their hunger for all the beauty and love they have experienced in paradise. The ultimate desire is for the angel to open their arms and embrace the singer, making them no longer a stranger but a beloved presence in paradise.
Overall, the lyrics of "Stranger in Paradise" depict a transformative experience of finding oneself in a divine and captivating realm, longing for connection with someone who has become their angelic guide.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, why do the leaves on the Mulberry tree
Why are the leaves on the Mulberry tree whispering differently now?
Whisper differently now?
Why has something changed to make them whisper differently?
And why is the nightingale singing at noon
Why is the nightingale singing on the Mulberry branch at noon?
On the Mulberry bow?
Why has the nightingale chosen to sing on the Mulberry branch?
For some most mysterious reason
There is a mysterious reason for this
This isn't the garden I know
This place is no longer the garden I am familiar with
No, it's paradise now
No, it has transformed into paradise
That was only a garden
What used to be just a garden
A moment ago
A short time in the past
Take my hand
Hold my hand
I'm a stranger in paradise
I am a stranger in this paradise-like place
All lost in a wonderland
Completely immersed in a magical place
A stranger in paradise
An unknown person in this beautiful paradise
If I stand starry-eyed
If I am amazed and captivated
That's a danger in paradise
It poses a risk in this paradise
For mortals who stand beside
For ordinary people who are nearby
An angel like you
A heavenly being like yourself
I saw your face
When I looked at your face
And I ascended
I rose up
Out of the commonplace
Out of the ordinary and mundane
Into the rare
Into something extraordinary and unique
Somewhere in space
In a place beyond earthly boundaries
I hang suspended
I remain in a state of suspension
Until I know
Until I am certain
There's a chance that you care
That you might have some care or affection for me
Won't you answer the fervent prayer
Please respond to my sincere prayer
Of a stranger in paradise
From an unfamiliar person in this paradise
Don't send me in dark despair
Do not leave me feeling hopeless
From all that I hunger for
Deprived of everything I desire
But open your angel's arms
Instead, embrace me with your angelic arms
To the stranger in paradise
Welcome and accept me, the outsider in this paradise
And tell him that he need be
Inform him that he doesn't have to remain
A stranger no more
A stranger forever
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Forrest, Robert Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind