The Rankins come from a family of 12, all of whom would entertain the neighbours musically every third weekend as part of a ceilidh.
Five of the siblings began performing professionally in 1989. The Rankins released their own independent cassettes The Rankin Family (1989) and Fare Thee Well Love (1990) featuring original songs and a combination of traditional jigs, reels and Celtic folk songs. Their television debut was on the CBC variety show On The Road Again in 1989.
Their most successful album was EMI's re-release of Fare Thee Well Love in 1992, which went quadruple platinum, selling over 500,000 copies; the title track was one of the year's biggest Top 40 hit singles in Canada.
The group has won many Canadian music awards, including 15 East Coast Music Awards, 6 Juno Awards, 4 SOCAN Awards, 3 Canadian Country Music Awards and 2 Big Country Music Awards.
On September 17, 1999, the group issued a press release stating that they would no longer perform as a group in order to pursue independent interests and careers.
John Morris Rankin was killed in a car accident in Cape Breton on January 16, 2000.
Jimmy Rankin has continued to write songs and has released two solo albums: Song Dog (2001) and Handmade (2003).
In November 2006, it was announced that the four surviving Rankins — along with John Morris's daughter Molly — would be releasing a new album and reuniting for a cross-Canada concert tour.
On June 3, 2012, Raylene Rankin appeared on CBC Radio's The Sunday Edition where she spoke about her decade-long struggle with cancer. She died on September 30, 2012 at the age of 52.
Discography
* The Rankin Family (independent, 1989)
* Fare Thee Well Love (independent, 1990)
* Fare Thee Well Love [CD re-issue] (Capitol, 1992)
* The Rankin Family [CD re-issue] (Capitol, 1992)
* North Country (EMI, 1993)
* Endless Seasons (EMI, 1995)
* Grey Dusk Of Eve (EMI, 1995)
* Collection (EMI, 1996)
* Do You Hear...Christmas (EMI, 1997)
* Uprooted (EMI, 1998)
* Souvenir:1989-1998 (2003)
Never Alone
The Rankin Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you when it's time to go home
May you always have plenty your glass never empty
And know in your belly your never alone
May your tears come from laughin
May you find friends worth havin
May you win but stay humble it and
Smile more than grumble
And know when you stumble your never alone
Never Alone
Never Alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart when you face the unknown
Where ever you fly this isn't goodbye
I will follow you stay with you baby your never alone
Oh I have to be honest
As much as I want it
I'm not gonna promise the cold winds won't blow
So when hard times have found you
Your fears surround you
Wrap my love around you
And your Never Alone
Never Alone
Never Alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart when you face the unknown
Where ever you fly this isn't goodbye
I will follow you stay with you baby your never alone
Never Alone
Never Alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart when you face the unknown
Where ever you fly this isn't goodbye
I will follow you stay with you baby your never alone
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby your never alone
The Rankin Family’s song Never Alone is a heartfelt message of love and hope that transcends distance and time. Through its sincere lyrics, the song is a reminder of the importance of loved ones and their enduring presence in our lives. The opening lines, “May the angels protect you, and trouble neglect you, and heaven accept you when it's time to go home,” convey the hope that the person being addressed will be watched over and taken care of by divine forces.
The song continues with the lyrics “May you always have plenty, your glass never empty, and know in your belly your never alone.” This line reinforces the idea that the person being sung to will never be alone, even in the most difficult times. The message of the song is further amplified as it urges the listener to find joy in life and the company of good friends, and to smile more than grumble. The chorus repeats the phrase “Never Alone,” emphasizing the lasting connection and love the singer has for the person being addressed.
In the final verse, the singer acknowledges that life can be difficult and that hard times will come. But despite the struggles, the promise of love from the songwriter will endure. “So when hard times have found you, your fears surround you, wrap my love around you, and you're never alone,” the lyrics declare. This song is a loving and powerful ode to the bond of love and the hope that it brings.
Line by Line Meaning
May the angles protect you
May divine beings shield and defend you from all harm
And trouble neglect you
May all misfortune evade you
And heaven accept you when it's time to go home
May your soul ascend to paradise when your time comes to pass away
May you always have plenty your glass never empty
May you forever have abundance, and never go thirsty or lack for anything
And know in your belly your never alone
Feel comfort and companionship deep within you, knowing that you always have someone by your side
May your tears come from laughin
May any tears shed be from uncontrollable joy and mirth
May you find friends worth havin
May you meet loyal and supportive people who are worth befriending
With every year passin it worth more than gold
As time goes by, the value of your life and experiences only increases
May you win but stay humble it and
May you achieve success and victory, but still remain modest and grounded
Smile more than grumble
Have a positive outlook on life and often smile, rather than complaining or grumbling
And know when you stumble your never alone
Recognize that even during difficult times when you falter, you always have support and love around you
Never Alone
You will never be alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart when you face the unknown
No matter what unknowns or challenges you encounter, my presence will always be with you and give you strength
Where ever you fly this isn't goodbye
No matter where life takes you, it's not a permanent farewell
I will follow you stay with you baby your never alone
I will always be with you, never leaving your side
Oh I have to be honest
I need to tell you the truth
As much as I want it
As much as I desire to
I'm not gonna promise the cold winds won't blow
I cannot guarantee that there won't be tough times ahead
So when hard times have found you
When you face adversity
Your fears surround you
When fear overwhelms you
Wrap my love around you
Surround yourself with the love I have for you
And your Never Alone
And you will never be alone
My love will follow you stay with you
My love will accompany you and always be with you
Baby your never alone
You will never be alone, my love and support will always be with you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SARAH BUXTON, VICTORIA LYNN SHAW, GARY SCOTT BURR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind