He became widely known for his version of "Wind Beneath My Wings" (1982), as well as his own compositions "Durham Town (The Leavin')" (1969) and "I Don't Believe in If Anymore" (1970), his 1970 hit "New World in the Morning" and his 1975 hit "The Last Farewell" (his only single to hit the US Billboard Hot 100, making it to the Top 20).
Whittakers first chart success came in 1969 when "Durham Town (The Leavin')" was his first UK Top 20 hit. In 1970 came two follow-up hits, "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" (Top 10) and "New World In The Morning" (Top 20), and 1971 brought two smaller hit singles "Why" and "Mamy Blue".
Whittaker was absent from the UK singles chart until 1975, when "The Last Farewell" went Top 3, after which it was another eleven years until "Skye Boat Song" returned him to the Top 10 of the singles chart.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Whittaker had success in Germany, with German language songs produced by Nick Munro (unable to speak German at that time, Whittaker sang the songs phonetically). In time he became more fluent in German and sang and was interviewed in German on Danish television in November 2008. Whittaker retired from touring in 2013.
Harbour Lights
Roger Whittaker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They only told me we were parting
The same old harbor lights that once brought you to me
I watched the harbor lights
How could I help if tears were starting
Goodbye to tender nights beside the silv'ry sea
I long to hold you near and kiss you just once more
Now I know lonely nights
For all the while my heart is whisp'ring
Some other harbor lights will steal your love from me
I long to hold you near and kiss you just once more
But you were on the ship and I was on the shore
Now I know lonely nights
For all the while my heart is whisp'ring
Some other harbor lights will steal your love from me
The lyrics of Roger Whittaker's song "Harbour Lights" portray the sorrow and longing of a lover saying goodbye to their partner who is leaving on a ship. As the singer watches the harbor lights in the distance, he or she realizes that they are parting, and the same lights that once brought them together are now separating them. The singer cannot help but shed tears and bid farewell to the tender nights they had shared by the silvery sea. Even though they want to kiss one more time before their lover departs, they cannot as they are stuck on the shore, while their partner sets sail on a ship.
The singer is left with feelings of loneliness and heartache, knowing that some other harbor lights will steal their love from them. These lyrics beautifully capture the pain, longing, and separation that take place when a lover leaves, leaving the other to witness the harbor lights' fading glow. The words reflect the bittersweet moment when the couple must part, and their love may or may not survive the separation.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw the harbor lights
I caught a glimpse of the lights in the harbor.
They only told me we were parting
The sight of those lights made me realize that we were separating.
The same old harbor lights that once brought you to me
The lights that I saw in the harbor are the same ones that guided you to me before.
I watched the harbor lights
I observed the flickering lights in the harbor.
How could I help if tears were starting
It was difficult for me to control the tears that started streaming down my face.
Goodbye to tender nights beside the silv'ry sea
I bid farewell to the sweet moments we spent together by the ocean.
I long to hold you near and kiss you just once more
I yearn to embrace you tightly and plant a loving kiss on your lips again.
But you were on the ship and I was on the shore
At that time, you were on the ship leaving the shore, while I was stranded on land.
Now I know lonely nights
I have come to realize that my nights will be filled with loneliness.
For all the while my heart is whisp'ring
My heart continually murmurs, reminding me of your absence.
Some other harbor lights will steal your love from me
I fear that other harbor lights may entice you away from our love.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hugh Williams, Jimmy Kennedy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jagjitisher
What a great melody so beautifully sung.
@train4905
I love this song.my late fathers favorite artist thanku
@davidcharles7106
Even if he's not British, Roger should be Knighted by the Queen. He should also receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. What a great guy!