Brightman has received over 180 Gold and Platinum sales awards in over 40 different countries around the world and is the only artist to hold #1 spots on the Billboard Classical and Dance charts simultaneously, her other achievements feature her ranking by the Recording Industry Association of America as the best-selling female classical artist of the twenty-first century and a Guinness World Record for the success of “Time to Say Goodbye,” the best-selling single in German recording history.
She has established herself as the world's biggest selling soprano of all time, She has sold 78 million albums worldwide, including 40 million copies of the soundtrack of The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical), 26 million albums, over two million DVDs and 10 million copies of the single " Time to Say Goodbye "as a soloist.
She made her debut as a dancer in troupes such as Hot Gossip and later released a string of disco singles. She was a musical theatre performer and partner of theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom she originated roles including Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera.
After her divorce, Brightman became a crossover artist with former Enigma producer Frank Peterson. Her style, a blend of classical vocals and pop-inspired instrumentation and arrangement, earned her further success.
She is often cited as the woman who paved the way for other international success stories such as Il Divo, Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban. She is said to be worth as much as £30m (about US$49m).
Dear Harp of My Country!
Sarah Brightman Lyrics
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The cold chain of silence had hung o'er thee long;
When proudly, my own Island Harp! I unbound thee,
And gave all thy chords to light, freedom, and song!
The warm lay of love and the light tone of gladness
Have waken'd thy fondest, thy liveliest thrill;
But so oft has thou echo'd the deep sigh of sadness,
Dear harp of my country! farewell to thy numbers.
This sweet wreath of song is the last we shall twine;
Go, sleep with the sunshine of fame on thy slumbers,
Till touch'd by some hand less unworthy than mine.
If the pulse of the patriot, soldier, or lover,
Have throbb'd at our lay, 'tis thy glory alone;
I was but as the wind, passing heedlessly over,
And all the wild sweetness I waked was thy own!
The lyrics to Sarah Brightman's "Dear Harp of My Country" reflect a deep sense of nostalgia and love for the beloved harp of Ireland. The singer sings about how they found the harp in darkness, with no sound or song emanating from it due to the long silence that had hung over it for years. But they proudly unbound the harp, giving it the freedom to sing, and the warmth of love and happiness awakened the beautiful sound of the harp. Even though the harp echoed the deep sigh of sadness, the music was still beautiful and touching, and the singer bids the harp farewell as they promise it will be touched by a more worthy hand than their own.
One interpretation of the lyrics suggests that the singer is comparing the harp to Ireland itself, which had been silenced by the British during the 17th and 18th centuries. The singer then compares themselves to the "wind," passing over the harp but not creating the beautiful music that comes from it, which might represent their own place in the struggle for Irish independence.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear harp of my country! In darkness I found thee,
The harp, a symbol of Ireland, captures the emotional essence of the Irish people even in times of darkness and despair.
The cold chain of silence had hung o'er thee long;
The harp has been silent for too long, oppressed by outside forces that seek to mute the Irish voice.
When proudly, my own Island Harp! I unbound thee,
The singer feels a deep sense of ownership over the harp as one of their most valuable possessions.
And gave all thy chords to light, freedom, and song!
The artist released the harp from the chains of silence and gave it the power to express the aspirations of the Irish people.
The warm lay of love and the light tone of gladness
The harp can evoke joyful emotions such as love and happiness.
Have waken'd thy fondest, thy liveliest thrill;
The singer believes that the harp is capable of a powerful and vibrant range of emotions and can truly stir the soul.
But so oft has thou echo'd the deep sigh of sadness,
The harp reflects the sad and painful history of the Irish people and their struggles.
That e'en in thy mirth it will steal from thee still.
Even in the midst of joy and celebration, the harp must remember the difficulties and sorrows of the past.
Dear harp of my country! farewell to thy numbers.
The artist must part with the harp, but does so with affection and gratitude for all it has brought them.
This sweet wreath of song is the last we shall twine;
The current piece of music is the last the artist will create with the harp.
Go, sleep with the sunshine of fame on thy slumbers,
The harp, now retired, will be remembered and celebrated for its role in Irish music and history.
Till touch'd by some hand less unworthy than mine.
The artist humbly acknowledges that someone else may make an even greater contribution to Irish music and culture.
If the pulse of the patriot, soldier, or lover,
If anyone feels moved or inspired by the singer's music and the harp's music, it is the harp's credit alone.
Have throbb'd at our lay, 'tis thy glory alone;
Any emotional response to the music is a testament to the harp's power and beauty.
I was but as the wind, passing heedlessly over,
The singer sees themselves as a mere instrument through which the harp's music flows.
And all the wild sweetness I waked was thy own!
Any beauty in the music was the harp's own, and the artist merely served to bring it forth.
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC
Written by: BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind