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).

Winter Light
Sarah Brightman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hearts fall
Hearts call
Swallowed in the rain
Who knows
Life grows
Hollow and so vain
Wandering in the winter light
The wicked and the sane

Bare witness to salvation
And life starts over again

Now the clear sky is all around you
Aah, aah
Love's shadow will surround you
All through the night
Star glowing in the twilight
Tell me true
Hope whispers and I will follow
'Till you love me too
Ah

Now the clear sky is all around you
Aah,aah
Love's shadow will surround you
All through the night
Star glowing in the twilight
Tell me true
Hope whispers and I will follow

'Till you love me too
Ah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Winterlight, by Sarah Brightman, are imbued with deep emotion and evoke feelings of loneliness, hope, and salvation. The first verse of the song, "Hearts fall, Hearts call, Swallowed in the rain, Who knows, Life grows, Hollow and so vain," reflects the idea that life is tough, and we often find ourselves alone, helpless, and struggling to find meaning in our existence. The second verse continues the theme of loneliness but offers a sliver of hope as it speaks of wandering in the winter light, where the wicked and the sane bear witness to salvation. The last line of the verse, "And life starts over again," suggests that salvation could mean a fresh start, an opportunity to heal and grow.

The chorus of the song, "Now the clear sky is all around you, Love's shadow will surround you, All through the night, Star glowing in the twilight, Tell me true, Hope whispers, and I will follow, 'Till you love me too," offers a glimpse of hope and the possibility of finding love and companionship. The clear sky can symbolize a breakthrough, while the love's shadow is a metaphor for the feeling of being surrounded by love. The star glowing in the twilight offers guidance, and the hope that whispers is a reminder that even when things seem bleak, hope is always present.

Line by Line Meaning

Hearts fall
Emotions falter

Hearts call
Emotions seek connection

Swallowed in the rain
Overwhelmed by life's trials

Who knows
Uncertain of outcomes

Life grows
Life continues to unfold

Hollow and so vain
Emptiness and self-importance prevail

Wandering in the winter light
Reflecting on life's journey

The wicked and the sane
All peoples are witnesses to life

Bare witness to salvation
Observe the joy of redemption

And life starts over again
Life is continually renewed

Now the clear sky is all around you
Clarity and possibility encompass

Aah, aah
Vocal emphasis, no textual meaning

Love's shadow will surround you
Love will envelop you

All through the night
Throughout life's journey

Star glowing in the twilight
A beacon of hope, even in darkness

Tell me true
Share your feelings honestly

Hope whispers and I will follow
Optimism motivates action

'Till you love me too
Until mutual affection is realized

Ah
Vocal emphasis, no textual meaning

Now the clear sky is all around you
Clarity and possibility encompass

Aah,aah
Vocal emphasis, no textual meaning