This little light of mine
I was told to let it shine
But I stood idly by
And watched that poor flame die
I kept it from the bushel and brush
Away from the grasp of men
I left that lantern in the light
Where my flame could blend right in
I will bear this cross
And I will wear these thorns
I will bear this cross
I will wear these thorns
But I know all this dark won't swallow
All the light I hide but still host her
I'll learn to hold
She will grow and grow
And she will shine so bright
"Don't let Satan blow it out"
The teachers always said
But soon enough he figured out
It wasn't worth his breathe
'Cause this little light of mine
Is losing all its bright
Not to the dark, I hold inside
But to the dark kept from its sight
Below the smoke still burns a fire
A small spark lives 'neath all these ashes
Promise me you'll blow until I glow
I will bear this cross
I will wear these thorns
But I know all this dark won't swallow
All the light I hide but still host her
I'll learn to hold
He will grow and grow
And she will shine so bright
I've learned to smolder
All the smoke but no flame
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
(I will bear this cross)
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
(I will wear these thorns)
But I know all this dark won't swallow
The light I hide but still host her
I'll learn to hold
She will grow and grow
And she will shine so bright
Ashes to ashes, we all fall down
This little light of mine
I was told to let it shine
But I stood idly by
I was told to let it shine
But I stood idly by
And watched that poor flame die
I kept it from the bushel and brush
Away from the grasp of men
I left that lantern in the light
Where my flame could blend right in
I will bear this cross
And I will wear these thorns
I will bear this cross
I will wear these thorns
But I know all this dark won't swallow
All the light I hide but still host her
I'll learn to hold
She will grow and grow
And she will shine so bright
"Don't let Satan blow it out"
The teachers always said
But soon enough he figured out
It wasn't worth his breathe
'Cause this little light of mine
Is losing all its bright
Not to the dark, I hold inside
But to the dark kept from its sight
Below the smoke still burns a fire
A small spark lives 'neath all these ashes
Promise me you'll blow until I glow
I will bear this cross
I will wear these thorns
But I know all this dark won't swallow
All the light I hide but still host her
I'll learn to hold
He will grow and grow
And she will shine so bright
I've learned to smolder
All the smoke but no flame
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
(I will bear this cross)
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
(I will wear these thorns)
But I know all this dark won't swallow
The light I hide but still host her
I'll learn to hold
She will grow and grow
And she will shine so bright
Ashes to ashes, we all fall down
This little light of mine
I was told to let it shine
But I stood idly by
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
Wanderers Lyrics as written by Charles W. Miller Beth Gibbons
Lyrics © BMG GOLD SONGS OBO FAR OUT MUSIC INC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"The lyrics deal a lot with conviction and the loss of it. Light can only shine in dark places. Despite many things, the most natural of human conviction and hope is not lost."
I really like how it's based off the little light of mine thing.
I was told to let it shine
But I stood idly by
And watched that poor flame die
I kept it from the bushel and brush
And away from the grasp of men
I left that lantern in the light
Where my flame could blend right in
I will bear this cross
I will wear these thorns
But I know
All this dark won't swallow
All the light I hide
But still host
Her I'll learn to hold
She will grow and grow
She will shine so bright
"Don't let Satan blow it out."
The teachers always said
But soon enough he figured out
It wasn't worth his breathe
'Cuz this little light of mine
Is losing all its' bright
Not to the dark I hold inside
But to the dark kept from its sight
Below the smoke still burns a fire
A small spark lives 'nearth all these ashes
Promise me you'll blow until I glow red,
bright fiery red
I've learned to smolder
All smoke but no flame
Ashes ashes we all fall down
(I long to glow like you
embers, bright halogen embers)
I will bear this cross
I will wear these thorns
But I know
All this dark won't swallow
All the light I hide
But still host
Her I'll learn to hold
She will grow and grow
She will shine so bright
Ashes to ashes we all fall down
This little light of mine
I was told to let it shine
But I stood idly by...
Anyways, I think this song is about him not trying hard and making mistakes. After he finds out he's going to be a father (notice it comes before Stay Small) he doesn't want to his daughter to end up like him (burning out and letting his 'flame' die).
I think its about a guy who was raised in a religion, but grew up and wandered away from it, until he he hit rock bottom...the light could be his soul.
-----------------------------------------------
"This little light of mine
I was told to let it shine"
He grew up with faith, and he was raised to show his faith and proclaim it. In this medaphor, Faith=Light.
--------------------------------------------
"But I stood idly by
And watched that poor flame die
I kept it from the bushel and brush
And away from the grasp of men
I left that lantern in the light
Where my flame could blend right in"
Here, the speaker is addressing how he was reclusive about his faith, probably because of society's growing disrespect of faith of any kind. He "kept that lanturn in the light", meaning he only exposed his faith to people who shared his views, probably for fear of ridicule.
----------------------------------------------------
"I will bear this cross
I will wear these thorns"
Confirms the christian meaning behind this song. Bearing the cross is a Christian medaphor for suffering in the name of faith.
---------------------------------------------
"Her I'll learn to hold
She will grow and grow
She will shine so bright"
I have no idea...Every reference to "her" has me completely stumped. I have to think about this more. Maybe "She" is his "light" aka faith. But thats just speculation.
----------------------------------------------
""Don't let Satan blow it out."
The teachers always said
But soon enough he figured out
It wasn't worth his breathe
'Cuz this little light of mine
Is losing all its' bright
Not to the dark I hold inside
But to the dark kept from its sight
Below the smoke still burns a fire
A small spark lives 'nearth all these ashes
Promise me you'll blow until I glow red,
bright fiery red"
Pretty much, someone is trying to convince him not to let Satin destroy his faith, and he is struggling with it, saying there is only a spark left from his flame (faith), then he urges the person to not give up on him ("promise you'll blow until I glow red")
-----------------------------------------------------------
"I've learned to smolder
All smoke but no flame
Ashes ashes we all fall down"
Ashes are left when a flame stops burning, pretty self explanitory what's going on here.
----------------------------------------------------
"I long to glow like you
embers, bright halogen embers"
The song then repeats the chorus, then ends with this:
"This little light of mine
I was told to let it shine
But I stood idly by... "
Same as the beginning, but this time you can hear the sadness in his voice and know now that he is looking back in regret.