Culture
26 May 20

Brendan Graham: The 'You' in 'You Raise Me Up'

There’s an element of mystery in songwriting. What exactly is he or she saying there? Who is that a reference to? And so on. For some that mystery is at the heart of one of the most popular songs of the modern era, ‘You Raise ME Up’. But others want answers! Here the songwriter himself offers his thoughts…

I am often asked the question, "Who did you mean by the ‘you’ in 'You Raise Me Up'?"

I have never answered that question and it is best left unanswered. In that way the ‘you’ can be whomever you want it to be…mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter, grandparent, husband, wife, partner, a loved one, a leader, a teacher…or even a power outside of ourselves…nature…the beauty of our world.

The ‘you’ can be anybody or anything that raises us up to be more than we can be…on our own.

In these times of great affliction for people everywhere, the ‘you’ can be each of us through what we do to help each other, to keep each other safe…to raise each other up.

It can also be each of you, who around the world come together to perform this song of hope and strength and gratitude for all those in our countries and communities who care for us…are there for us…and keep us safe.

‘I am strong when I am on your shoulders, 'You Raise Me Up'…to more than I can be’

• Brendan Graham is the Songwriter & Lyricist of ‘You Raise Me Up’. He lives in County Mayo, Ireland