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).
In The Bleak Midwinter
Sarah Brightman Lyrics
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Frost wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone, Snow had fallen
Snow on snow
Snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter
Long ago
Our God, heaven cannot hold him Nor earth sustain
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When he comes to reign
In the bleak midwinter A stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ
Angels and archangels may have gathered there
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air
But his mother only, in her maiden bliss
Worshiped the beloved with a kiss
What can I give him
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part
Yet what I can I give him Give my heart
The lyrics of Sarah Brightman's "In The Bleak Midwinter" is a contemplative and somber song, which is fittingly composed in a slow tempo. The opening verse describes the bleakness of winter, with everything around being frozen and hard due to the frost and snow that had fallen. However, the lyrics then shift to describing the birth of Jesus, who is so powerful that even heaven and earth cannot contain him. But, despite his greatness, Jesus was born in a stable as there was no place available for him. The focus of the song then shifts to Mary, who is the only one with the privilege to kiss and worship the newborn Jesus.
The lyrics are a reflection on the story of Christ's birth as narrated in the Gospels. The first verse uses vivid metaphors of winter to paint a picture of the frozen world which receives Christ. The second verse draws a comparison between the grandeur of Christ and the lowly stable in which he was born, while the third verse focuses on Mary's intimate moment of adoration.
Overall, "In the Bleak Midwinter" is an evocative song that uses contrasting images to convey the depth of the mystery of Christ’s birth. The song delivers its message effectively through its slow tempo and contemplative lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
In the bleak midwinter
During the cold, dark and lifeless winter season
Frost wind made moan
The wind howled out in freezing agony
Earth stood hard as iron
The ground was as solid as a metallic element
Water like a stone, Snow had fallen
The water was frozen and the snow had covered everything
Snow on snow
The snow had piled up in layers
In the bleak midwinter
During the cold, dark and lifeless winter season
Long ago
A very long time in the past
Our God, heaven cannot hold him Nor earth sustain
God, the almighty is too big to be confined by heaven or earth
Heaven and earth shall flee away When he comes to reign
When God comes in his full glory, even heaven and earth will tremble with awe
In the bleak midwinter A stable place sufficed
Even in the barren winter, a stable was enough for our savior's birth
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ
Jesus is the Lord, God and Almighty
Angels and archangels may have gathered there
There might have been angels and archangels present
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air
There were also cherubim and seraphim who filled the air
But his mother only, in her maiden bliss
His mother Mary was the only one who experienced the joy of bearing him
Worshiped the beloved with a kiss
Mary honored and loved Jesus with a tender kiss
What can I give him
What gift can I offer him?
Poor as I am?
Even though I am poor?
If I were a shepherd
If I were one of the humblest and poorest of the poor
I would bring a lamb
I would bring the most valuable thing I own, a lamb
If I were a Wise Man
If I were one of the wise and rich men
I would do my part
I would offer my best and give him something fit for a king
Yet what I can I give him Give my heart
But the only thing I can give him is my heart, my love, and my devotion
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVID FINDLAY, N TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind