Sarah Brightman (born 14 August 1960) is a British recording artist, actres… Read Full Bio ↴Sarah Brightman (born 14 August 1960) is a British recording artist, actress, songwriter and dancer, largely credited for being a pioneer of Classical Crossover. She sings songs in many languages including English, Spanish, French, Latin, German, Italian, Russian, Hindi, and Mandarin.

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).

I Loved You
Sarah Brightman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It was a plastic age with plastic tears
A total addiction to the wonder years
I'm a believer was where its at
He's singing oh Lola lady lay lady lay
She's fixing a hole down on Blue Jay Way
American Pie on your Tupperware
He paints an Andy-Pandy Campbell's tins
Boys in the jungle on your TV screen

In tricky dicky's love machine
We'll take an easy ride and have some fun
On Dylan's Highway 61
In California dreaming sun
That was when I loved you I loved you...

They were the living years of stainless steel
Praying for a time in a fortune wheel
Smooth operator was where its at

So welcome all of you to the pleasure dome
Of taking the look from the homeless zone
With digital aids in your telephone

Another day in paradise is nice
From Ronnie's recession's nice advice
'Cause UB40's ice is vice
So don't you let the sun go down on me
'Cause I want to break free from your MTV
To virtual reality

I loved you from the shadow of the past
I loved you
I never dreamed that it would last
I loved you
You gave me joy you gave me tears

I loved you
And took away the wonder years

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sarah Brightman's "I Loved You" reflects the theme of reminiscence, taking listeners on a nostalgic journey through the unforgettable moments of the past. The song begins by referring to the plastic age that we live in, where technology reigns and everything appears disposable. The lyrics seem to be talking about the 1960s, "the wonder years," when music was at its height and society was experiencing radical changes. The later section of the lyrics portrays a time in history where people were hopeful for a better future, the time of the 'stainless steel' era. It seems as though the song is referring to the changes that society had undergone within a short period of time, often confusing and uncertain about the future's course.

The lyrics contain references to several iconic songs of the past, such as "American Pie," "Easy Rider," and "UB40's ice." These references signify how music has played a critical role in shaping our culture and connecting us to our past. The line "You gave me joy, you gave me tears" highlights the bittersweet memories of the past that have been keeping the singer company.

The overall tone of "I Loved You" is that of longing, for a person, a song, and a time now long gone. Sarah Brightman uses her soothing vocals to create a sense of melancholy that transports the listener onto a reflective journey through their own memory lane, recalling moments of joy, pain, and nostalgia.

Line by Line Meaning

It was a plastic age with plastic tears
This era was artificial and devoid of real emotions

A total addiction to the wonder years
Everyone loved and missed the past

I'm a believer was where its at
Believing in something was the trend

He's singing oh Lola lady lay lady lay
He's singing a Bob Dylan song called "Lady Lady Lay" with the name "Lola" substituted in

She's fixing a hole down on Blue Jay Way
A reference to a Beatles song where a girl is fixing a hole in the road on Blue Jay Way

American Pie on your Tupperware
People were using Tupperware to store their food while listening to Don McLean's "American Pie"

He paints an Andy-Pandy Campbell's tins
A reference to pop artist Andy Warhol, who painted Campbell's soup cans

Boys in the jungle on your TV screen
People were watching shows/movies that involved boys in the jungle

In tricky dicky's love machine
A reference to President Nixon, who had a keychain that said "Love Machine"

We'll take an easy ride and have some fun
We'll relax and have a good time

On Dylan's Highway 61
A reference to Bob Dylan's album "Highway 61 Revisited"

In California dreaming sun
Thinking of California and the sunshine

That was when I loved you I loved you...
I loved you during this time

They were the living years of stainless steel
This era was very modern and futuristic

Praying for a time in a fortune wheel
People were hoping for good luck and fortune

Smooth operator was where its at
Being smooth and cool was in fashion

So welcome all of you to the pleasure dome
Welcome to a place of pleasure and excess

Of taking the look from the homeless zone
Copying the fashion/style of the homeless

With digital aids in your telephone
Phones were becoming more technological with features like digital displays

Another day in paradise is nice
It's nice to have another good day

From Ronnie's recession's nice advice
Ronald Reagan's advice on how to handle the recession was well-received

'Cause UB40's ice is vice
A reference to the band UB40 and their song "I Got You Babe" which includes the lyrics "I don't wanna be no uptown fool/ Maybe I should go to high schools/ And come out with a master plan/ A master plan, a master plan" - implying that their "ice" (plan) is a vice

So don't you let the sun go down on me
It's a plea to prevent the singer from being alone

'Cause I want to break free from your MTV
A reference to Queen's song "I Want to Break Free" but with "MTV" substituted in as a symbol of mass media/pop culture

To virtual reality
To a world that's not real - or is it?

I loved you from the shadow of the past
The singer's love existed in the past and still lingers

I loved you
Self-explanatory

I never dreamed that it would last
The artist didn't expect the love to continue this long

You gave me joy you gave me tears
The relationship had its ups and downs, but it was worth it

I loved you
Self-explanatory

And took away the wonder years
The love made the singer forget about how wonderful the past used to be

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRANK PETERSON, MATTHIAS MEISSNER, SARAH BRIGHTMAN, THOMAS SCHWARZ-JANSEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS