She is known for the emotional sound of her ballads. Some of her most popular songs include "Angel", "Building a Mystery", "Adia", "Possession", "Fallen", "I Will Remember You", and "World on Fire". Her best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four Juno Awards.
Her first album Touch was released in September 28, 1988, recorded in 1987-1988, Vancouver, Canada. The album received both critical and commercial success and included the hit song Vox. During this period she co-operated with Tom Ferris and Dean Russel of Moev, who discovered her as a singer. She contributed backing vocals their 1990 album Head Down and embarked on her first national concert tour as an opening act for The Grapes Of Wrath, another Tom Ferris's band.
Her second album Solace (1991) was a real breakthrough in Canada, spawning the hit singles The Path of Thorns (Terms) and Into the Fire and being certified double platinum for sales of 200,000 copies in Canada.
In 1994 her third album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy quietly became Sarah's international breakthrough, scaling the charts in a number of countries. In the United States, the album was a steady seller that stayed in the middle ranges of the pop charts for almost two years.
Sarah's fourth album Surfacing, released in 1997, brought her international success, selling over 11 million copies worldwide. Still in the spotlight from the album, Sarah launched the highly popular Lilith Fair tour, which helped launch the careers of several well-known female artists.
Her next record Afterglow came out in 2003; it contained the singles Fallen, Stupid, and World On Fire. It was her first album of new material in six years. Sarah took a few years furlough to start a family with her husband and drummer, Ashwin Sood.
Her Holiday album Wintersong came out in October 2006. The album consists of eleven new recordings of well known Christmas songs as well as seasonal favorites interpreted by Sarah. The title track Wintersong is an original work of Sarah.
McLachlan's first studio album of original material in seven years, Laws of Illusion, was released on June 15, 2010. It features 10 new songs in addition to the previously released tracks "U Want Me 2" and "Don't Give Up on Us. The first single Loving You Is Easy was released on April 23, 2010. It was followed by Forgiveness, released on June 30, 2010.
In A Bleak Mid Winter
Sarah McLachlan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter, long ago
Angels and archangels may have gathered there
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss
Oh 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
In the bleak midwinter, frosty winds made moan
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part
Yet what I can I give Him, give my heart
The lyrics to Sarah McLachlan's song "In a Bleak Midwinter" are quite evocative and full of symbolism. The song begins with a description of a frozen, wintry landscape: "In the bleak midwinter, frosty 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." This opening verse paints a picture of a desolate, barren landscape where even the earth and water are frozen solid. The repetition of the phrase "snow on snow" emphasizes the heavy, suffocating weight of the cold.
The second verse adds a spiritual dimension to the song, referencing the idea that angels and heavenly beings may have appeared on this frozen earth. "Angels and archangels may have gathered there / Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air / But His mother only, in her maiden bliss / Worshipped the beloved with a kiss." This verse suggests that even in the midst of the coldest, darkest winter, there may be hope and beauty in the form of divine love.
The final verse brings the song full circle, returning to the theme of what one can give in the face of hardship and scarcity. "Oh 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." In this verse, the song acknowledges the limitations of human offerings - even for a shepherd or the wise, there may not be enough to give - but asks that we offer what we can, even if it is simply our own hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan
During the harsh midwinter season, a cold howling wind could be heard
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone
The ground was frozen solid, and rivers and lakes turned to ice
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow
Layers upon layers of snow has covered the ground and landscape
In the bleak midwinter, long ago
A long time ago, during harsh winter conditions, this scene was present
Angels and archangels may have gathered there
There could have been a gathering of powerful divine beings such as angels and archangels
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air
The airspace was filled with winged celestial beings known as cherubim and seraphim
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss
Only the mother of Jesus, in her state of joy from being a young woman, worshipped him
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss
She showed love and devotion to her beloved son with a kiss
Oh what can I give Him, poor as I am?
The artist questions what gift they can offer to the infant Jesus despite their lack of wealth
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb
If the artist were a shepherd, they would give a lamb as a gift
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part
If the singer were a wise man, they would provide their own contribution to Jesus
Yet what I can I give Him, give my heart
Despite not having anything material to offer, the artist chooses to give their heart to Jesus
In the bleak midwinter, frosty winds made moan
Repeating the first verse's scene description, implying its lasting effect and the desperation of the conditions
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone
The harsh state of the earth and water is restated, emphasizing the harshness of the environment
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part
Repetition highlighting the desire to contribute to Jesus' birth
Yet what I can I give Him, give my heart
Echoing the final statement that even with limited resources, giving one's heart is valuable
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Sarah Mclachlan, Traditional, Pierre Marchand
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jaded Hart
on In The Arms Of The Angels
This will surely make you cry! Everyone can identify with this song! Hear it you won't regret it. And maybe you'll remember!