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"You Raise Me Up

Started it's life as a slow air with fragments of a familiar Irish tune weaving its way into the melody. We tried to banish the piece but it would not go away. Maybe it wanted a different life-form…and so, we decided to pursue the idea of adding lyrics and asked Irish writer Brendan Graham to listen to it. His books "The Whitest Flower" and "The Element of Fire" - two best-selling novels about the life of Ellen Rua O' Malley during the Irish famine, had inspired us strongly. He immediately began to "hear a story" in the melody and by that same evening had shaped the first draft of You raise me up. The unaccompanied violin opening is Fionnuala's first and untouched guide recording for the original demo, while Uilleann pipes' grand master, Liam O Flynn carries the tune through its middle course. The soulful singing of Brian Kennedy and Tracey Campbell-Nation, together with the London Community Gospel Choir and Irish choral group, Anúna, gives full expression to the deep spiritual longing within the lyric.

Lyrics by Brendan Graham | Music by Rolf Lovland

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... to more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... to more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
And I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... to more than I can be.
You raise me up... to more than I can be.

© 2001 Universal Music Norway / Acorn Music, Ireland"