A concert performer, composer, poet, singer, historian, storyteller, author… Read Full Bio ↴A concert performer, composer, poet, singer, historian, storyteller, author, TV host and humanitarian. For 30 years, Will Millar and his wonderful creations have brought joy to the hearts and smiles to the faces of millions of people throughout the world that have been touched by all his labors of love.

The Keeper
Will Millar Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

One morning when the world was new, when first we saw the sun.
The Lord lay down to rest awhile pleased at what He done.
And of all the creatures he had made, he loved the man the best.
So he placed into his hands the fate of all the rest.

"And all these things I give to you to keep and to protect,
From the biggest of the big blue whale to the tiniest insect.
To rule with love and kindness, the weak, the wild the strong.

And treat my creatures gently, only you know right from wrong."

But man was so conceited, that he couldn't see the worth.
Of all these lovely creatures that filled this lovely earth.
One by one he hunted them with food and sport and greed.
One by one they disappeared each species and each breed.

"And all these things I give to you to keep and to protect,
From the biggest of the big blue whale to the tiniest insect.
To rule with love and kindness, the weak, the wild the strong.
And treat my creatures gently, only you know right from wrong."

After many years had passed, the Lord came down to see.
The man and all the others he left so wild and free.
"Where are all my silver streams, my forests dark and green?"
There was only dust and desert, wherever man had been.

"And all these things I give to you to keep and to protect,
From the biggest of the big blue whale to the tiniest insect.
To rule with love and kindness, the weak, the wild the strong.
And treat my creatures gently, only you know right from wrong."

"Where are all my animals? The hippo and the whale?
And the fish that fill to the ocean, before your ships set sail.
The lion and the tiger and the elephant so tall?
I left you as their keeper. Do you not recall?"

"And all these things I gave to you to keep and to protect,
From the biggest of the big blue whale to the tiniest insect.
To rule with love and kindness, the weak, the wild the strong.

And treat my creatures gently, only you know right from wrong.
And treat my creatures gently, only you know right from wrong."

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Will Millar's song The Keeper are a poignant commentary on humanity's relationship with the natural world. The song begins by painting a picture of the creation of the world, with the Lord entrusting the fate of all the creatures to humankind. The lyrics speak to the idea that man was given a responsibility to care for the natural world, but instead, he has chosen to exploit and destroy it. The song speaks to humanity's conceit and highlights issues like hunting, greed, and environmental degradation that have led to the extinction of various species.

Throughout the song, the Lord's tone is one of disappointment and sadness. He returns to earth many years after he created it, only to find that the beauty and diversity of the natural world have been replaced by deserts and destruction. The Lord's questions about the missing animals, silver streams, and forests highlight the extensive damage caused by humans in their reckless pursuit of progress.

Line by Line Meaning

One morning when the world was new, when first we saw the sun.
In the beginning of time, when the sun first appeared, God was pleased with his creation.

And of all the creatures he had made, he loved the man the best.
God loved humanity the most among all the creatures he had created.

So he placed into his hands the fate of all the rest.
God entrusted the fate of all other creatures to humanity.

"And all these things I give to you to keep and to protect,
God gave humanity the responsibility to preserve and safeguard all creatures.

From the biggest of the big blue whale to the tiniest insect.
Humanity was instructed to protect all creatures, regardless of their size or significance.

To rule with love and kindness, the weak, the wild the strong.
God wanted humanity to rule over other creatures with compassion and empathy.

And treat my creatures gently, only you know right from wrong."
Humanity was expected to treat all creatures with care and respect, as they are the only ones who understand the difference between good and wrong actions.

But man was so conceited, that he couldn't see the worth.
Humans failed to see the value of other creatures and their role in the ecosystem.

Of all these lovely creatures that filled this lovely earth.
Although the earth was full of magnificent creatures, humanity disregarded their importance.

One by one he hunted them with food and sport and greed.
Humanity began to hunt and exploit other creatures for their own benefit and pleasure.

One by one they disappeared each species and each breed.
Due to human activities, multiple species and breeds of creatures became extinct.

After many years had passed, the Lord came down to see.
Many years later, God returned to see the state of his creation.

The man and all the others he left so wild and free.
God saw humanity and other creatures who were once wild and free, now living under oppression.

"Where are all my silver streams, my forests dark and green?"
God questioned the disappearance of natural resources and greenery on earth.

There was only dust and desert, wherever man had been.
Due to human activities, many areas that were once full of life and greenery turned into barren lands.

"Where are all my animals? The hippo and the whale?
God wondered where all his creatures, including the big mammals like the hippo and whale, had disappeared.

And the fish that fill to the ocean, before your ships set sail.
God questioned the absence of fish in the ocean, despite the human dependence on seafood.

The lion and the tiger and the elephant so tall?
God was concerned about the absence of majestic creatures like lions, tigers, and elephants.

I left you as their keeper. Do you not recall?"
God reminded humanity of their role as caretakers and protectors of other creatures on earth.

"And all these things I gave to you to keep and to protect,
God reiterated his expectations from humanity, to preserve and safeguard all creatures.

And treat my creatures gently, only you know right from wrong.
Humanity must treat all creatures with care and respect, as they are the only ones who know the difference between good and wrong actions.

Contributed by Andrew F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

limeliter

13y↑6

After following the Irish Rovers music for years while my family was growing and seeing their concerts its refreshing to see Will Millar and the new group still singing great music, we like it all...but the "Keeper" as was the "Unicorn" will always have a special place for us. Thanks for the post.