My life goes on in endless song
Above earth´s lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear its music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness 'round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I´m clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble in their fear
And hear their death knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near
How can I keep from singing?

In prison cell and dungeon vile
Our thoughts to them are winging,
When friends by shame are undefiled
How can I keep from singing?


Lyrics submitted by daz_spaz

How Can I Keep from Singing? Lyrics as written by Nicky Ryan Eithne Ni Bhraonain

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

How Can I Keep From Singing? song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

8 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    I believe this a hymn of praise. It is to say that she is so overwhelmed with love for God that she cannot help but express her awe.

    I particularly like the line 'No storm can shake my inmost clam, while to that rock I'm clinging." It gets me through anything and makes me weap with joy.

    "For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name's sake, lead me and guide me." Psalm 31:3

    Paramedico987on October 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song. It's so beautiful. The meaning to me is too hard for me to express in words but I love it.

    StarAngel2003on August 17, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    She is saying that she is strong and that everything that comes her way, good or bad, shouldnt bring her down all the way. I love this song. One of my favorites on that CD.

    msleamichon April 28, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It is an amazing song. It is actually crazy old...written in something like 1860 and is very traditional and has been sung by many people (John McCutcheon, etc.) and I think Enya does a nice job with it.

    marlindarlinon December 11, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I have sung this song in Church (it is in our hymnals)... Enya sings it much better

    littlethreeon June 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree with msleamich Everyone should go on and not bring down

    isacon January 10, 2007   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    I wish Enya had used the original lyrics, but these are really nice just the same. The original lyrics were by Robert Wadsworth Lowry, a Christian, so if my comments offend you, take it up with him. ;]

    "My life goes on in endless song above earth's lamentations."

    • Christ said, "My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36) His kingdom includes his sheep (Christians). We are in the world, but we are not of it. Our hope and joy is in Heaven with God, above all of the sorrows of the earth.

    "I hear the real, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation."

    • New creation: Heaven and the new, sinless earth that God will create. The hymn he hears is far off and quiet, almost to the point of completely silent, especially in this loud, fallen world. But the writer still hears it and knows it is real. And he waits for it eagerly.

    "Through all the tumult and the strife I ear it's music ringing. it sounds and echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?" -Though the sound is faint during times of persecution, strife, and heartache, Lowry can still hear the hymn. The hymn represents the promise of Heaven and being with God for eternity.

    "But though the tempest loudly roars, I hear the truth, it liveth and though the darkness round me close, songs in the night if giveth."

    • Again, through the storm (and not just any storm; a TEMPEST! A violent storm), the writer still holds on to the promise that he knows is true (though the world rejects it) that Christ will return.

    "No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I'm clinging since Love is Lord or Heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?"

    • From Psalm 62:2: "He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." Christ is often referred to as "Rock of Ages". This is a reference to Exodus 33:22 where we see a foreshadowing of Christ in the Old Testament. God tells Moses that He will hide him in the cleft of a rock while He passes over; just as the repentant are hiding in Christ as God judges the unrepentant for their sins. We are told The original lyrics say "Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth" but since Christ is God, and God is Love then this verse still works out. :)

    "When tyrants tremble in their fear and hear their death knell ringing, When friends rejoice both far and near, how can I keep from singing?"

    • This verse it pretty obvious, though that fact doesn't make it any less beautiful. :]

    "In prison cell and dungeon vile our thoughts to them are winging."

    • Prayers for the persecuted believers. There are Christians on the other side of the world (even today) being tortured, put in prison, & killed for their faith in Christ. This verse mentions them and reminds us to keep them in our prayers.

    "When friends by shame are undefiled how can I keep from singing?"

    • This is probably my favorite line in the entire hymn. I never understood it when I was younger. I tried to make sense of it but I couldn't. Finally, after God graciously saved me in 2008, I was thinking about this hymn and I FINALLY got it! The world is fallen. We have all sinned and are therefore are separated from God and deserving of punishment (Hell). But when the Gospel is preached we are brought to shame because we realize that we have all broken the Law. We have all sinned. We are then humbled by our shame and we repent and trust in Christ (who took the punishment that we deserve) as the only means of salvation. We are no longer defiled; we are made clean (undefiled).

    Thus, "When friends, by SHAME, are undefiled, how can I keep from singing?" I mean....with a God like that who would save wretched sinners like us... ...how CAN you keep from singing?

    God bless, Aaron :]

    wretchedaaronon January 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Link(s)

    Original lyrics (Ro­bert Wadsworth Low­ry): cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/c/hcaikeep.htm

    johnk73on January 15, 2013   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.