The Proclaimers are a Scottish band composed of identical twin brothers, Ch… Read Full Bio ↴The Proclaimers are a Scottish band composed of identical twin brothers, Charlie and Craig Reid (born 5 March 1962, in Leith). They are probably best known for the songs "Letter from America", "I'm On My Way" and "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". The band tours extensively throughout Europe and other continents. They have released eleven studio albums from 1987 until the present, as well as two compilation albums and a DVD.

Craig Reid and Charlie Reid were born in Leith, Scotland in 1962, and grew up in Edinburgh, Cornwall and Auchtermuchty. After several punk rock bands at school they formed The Proclaimers in 1983.

The pair came to public attention when an Inverness based fan sent their demo to the British band The Housemartins, who were impressed enough to invite The Proclaimers on their 1986 UK tour. The exposure of the tour won them a January 1987 appearance on the British pop music television programme The Tube on Channel Four; "Letter from America" peaked at number 3 in the UK Singles Chart, whilst the album This is the Story went gold. The follow-up album Sunshine on Leith featured "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" and "I'm On My Way". They had a hit with their EP King of the Road, which reached number 9 in UK in 1990.

In March 2007 they recorded a new version of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" with television comedy characters Andy Pipkin (played by Matt Lucas) and Brian Potter (Peter Kay) for the Comic Relief charity. A long list of celebrities were featured in the music video for this new version, including David Bellamy, Rod, Jane and Freddy, Paul O'Grady, David Tennant, Frank Sidebottom and many more. This new version of the song reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart.

The band was one of The B-52s' touring partners on their Funplex tour in Australia and New Zealand in November 2009, alongside Mental as Anything.

The brothers are fans of Hibernian Football Club, and "Sunshine on Leith" has become a theme song for the club, being played at home matches for important fixtures, such as the Edinburgh derby versus Heart of Midlothian FC, the club's city rivals. Charlie and Craig Reid appeared at their Easter Road stadium for the 'Hands Off Hibs' campaign in 1990 when Wallace Mercer, a wealthly Edinburgh businessman with direct connections to Hearts FC, attempted a takeover of the club but was defeated by fan pressure.

They are also well-known supporters of Scottish independence and have at various stages of their lives been activists for the Scottish National Party, expressing such views during their promotional tour of Britain in March 2007. However in April 2007 Charlie Reid announced that he had switched his allegiance to the Scottish Socialist Party in protest at the Scottish National Party's receipt of funding from big business. Many of their songs reflect their political views, such as "Letter from America" and "Cap in Hand".

On 16 May 2006 the twins announced their participation in a campaign to free a fellow Scot, Kenny Richey, from his death row sentence in Ohio, including an appearance at a charity concert. Also, in 2010 they participated with Billy Bragg in a show supporting Reprieve, charity that fights the death penalty. The Proclaimers also support other charities such as The Lighthouse Foundation (addiction victims), AICR (cancer research), Drake Music Scotland (help disabled people through music) or 500 miles (amputees or disabled people in Africa).

To My Father's House
The Proclaimers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Venid, exultemos cantando al señor
Alegres volvamos en fiesta a la casa del padre
Venid al banquete de su gran amor
Pues aquel que estaba muerto volvió a vivir
Toda adoración, toda honra siempre
Al cordero santo y vencedor
Todas las naciones cantarán la gloria
Y las misericordias del señor

Ved al pueblo que Dios tanto amó
Revestido de misericordia y de compasión
Pueblo redimido por su cruz
En las sendas del mundo entonando una nueva alabanza
Toda adoración, toda honra, siempre
Al cordero santo y vencedor
Todas las naciones cantarán la gloria
Y las misericordias del señor
Es eterna, eterna su misericordia
Es eterna, eterna su misericordia
Es eterna, eterna su misericordia
Es eterna, eterna su misericordia
Toda adoración, toda honra, siempre
Al cordero santo y vencedor

Todas las naciones cantarán la gloria
Y las misericordias del señor

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Proclaimers's song "To My Father's House" are in Spanish and are a beautiful invitation to come and worship the Lord. The song begins with the call to "come and exultantly sing to the Lord" and emphasizes the joy and celebration of returning to the Father's house. It speaks of coming together to partake in the great banquet of God's love, symbolizing the abundant grace and mercy that God offers to all.

The lyrics also highlight the resurrection of Jesus, declaring that the One who was once dead has come back to life. This resurrection is a central aspect of Christian faith, representing the victory of Jesus over sin and death. The song proclaims that all worship and honor belong to the holy and victorious lamb, and that all nations will sing of the glory and mercies of the Lord.

In the second verse, the lyrics describe the people whom God loves so dearly, who are now clothed in mercy and compassion. They are a redeemed people, saved by the cross of Christ, and they joyfully sing a new praise on the paths of the world. The repetition of the phrase "toda adoración, toda honra, siempre" (all worship, all honor, always) reinforces the idea that praise and honor should be continually offered to the holy and victorious lamb.

Overall, the lyrics of "To My Father's House" convey a message of joy, gratitude, and worship. They speak of the inclusive nature of God's love, encompassing all nations and extending eternal mercy to everyone. The song encourages believers to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and to join in proclaiming God's glory and mercies.

Line by Line Meaning

Venid, exultemos cantando al señor
Come, let us rejoice and sing to the Lord

Alegres volvamos en fiesta a la casa del padre
Joyfully we return to the Father's house in celebration

Venid al banquete de su gran amor
Come to the feast of His great love

Pues aquel que estaba muerto volvió a vivir
For the one who was dead has returned to life

Toda adoración, toda honra siempre
All worship, all honor, always

Al cordero santo y vencedor
To the holy and victorious Lamb

Todas las naciones cantarán la gloria
All nations will sing the glory

Y las misericordias del señor
And the mercies of the Lord

Ved al pueblo que Dios tanto amó
Behold the people whom God loved so much

Revestido de misericordia y de compasión
Clothed in mercy and compassion

Pueblo redimido por su cruz
A redeemed people by His cross