NOCTURNE
Special guest: Anne Takle

“Nocturne” - our very first melody - the winning song of the 1995 Eurovision Song Contest - and the key song in our first international release - “Songs from a Secret Garden”. We asked Petter Skavland, who’d written the original 24 words to the opening and ending, to complete the story and make it into a full song. In the preparation process I asked the talented singer and songwriter Anne Takle to demo it. Her very personal approach to the song was a key point in understanding this instrumental-into-vocal process - by allowing the artists to perform the songs with their own artistic identity - by searching for a new platform and being open to telling the story from a here and now perspective. Anne’s special performance made us aware of all these essential issues. Changing even one note from her original demo became impossible. We’re very proud that her very first recording is an important part of this album.

Now, let the day
Just slip away
So the dark night may watch over you
Velvet, blue
Silent, true
It embraces your heart and your soul
Nocturne

Never cry - never sigh
You don’t have to wonder why
Always be - always see
Come and dream the night with me
Nocturne

Have no fear
When the night draws near
And fills you with dreams and desire
Like a child asleep
So warm, so deep
You will find me there waiting for you
Nocturne

We will fly - claim the sky
We don’t have to wonder why
Always see - always be
Come and dream the night with me
Nocturne

Though darkness lay
It will give way
When the dark night delivers the day
Nocturne

Music Rolf Lovland
Lyrics Petter Skavlan

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THANK YOU
Special guest: Peter Jöback

The concept of this album is based on new vocal versions of previously released Secret Garden instrumentals. But, during the 2-year work process of the album, I’ve also written some new songs - so the story continues… “Thank You” is one of these new songs. I sent the demo with a guide melody to lyricist Brendan Graham - who has collaborated closely with us in developing this vocal concept. He responded with these beautiful and playful words. From the very first time I heard the Swedish singer Peter Jöback in the Benny Anderson / Björn Ulveus-musical “Kristina från Duvamåla”, I’ve loved his beautiful and emotive voice, and his personal way of combining traditional phasing into a modern performance.

If I lived to be a thousand years,
If I ruled the word – it’s hemispheres,
I could not repay the love you brought my way,
So, I want to say it now -
to thank you for each day you gave me

Thank you for the Mondays,
Saturdays and Sundays,
Everyday, the whole year through;
Thank you for the fun days,
All those number-one days,
Battles-to-be-won days, too;
I just want to say it,
Thank you for each day with… you.

We have just one life to seize the day,
We only have what time there is to say…
‘n’ do what we must do, express our gratitude,
So, I whant to say it and sing it now to you.

Thank you for the Mondays,
Saturdays and Sundays,
Everyday, the whole year through;
Thank you for the fun days,
All those number-one days,
Battles-to-be-won days, too;
I just want to say it,
Thank you for each day with… you.

At the close of every day,
When I close my eyes to pray,
All I need to do, is just to think of you…
Then, all I need to say…is…

Thank you for the Mondays,
Saturdays and Sundays,
Everyday, the whole year through;
Thank you for the fun days,
All those number-one days,
Battles-to-be-won days, too;
I just want to say it,
Thank you for each day with… you.

Music Rolf Lovland
Lyrics Brendan Graham

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THE THINGS YOU ARE TO ME
Special guest: Elaine Paige

“Song from a Secret Garden” - the title song to our first album - has always been a melody close to our hearts. We always like to perform it in concert, as we feel it’s one of those special songs that truly expresses what Secret Garden is all about. Many attempts have been made to write lyrics to this melody, but only when Brendan Graham presented “The Things You Are to Me” did we feel a perfect match - the story in the melody became the story in Brendan’s lyric… We asked Elaine Paige - the legendary singer and iconic star of “Evita”, “Cars”, “Chess” and many other London stage musicals and recordings - to give life to this song. Her voice and passionate performance honors the song with depth and storytelling - and lifts it to a level we’d only dreamed of.

If i held in my hand, every grain of sand,
since time first began to be,
Still, I could never count, measure the amount,
Of all the things you are to me.

If I could paint the sky, hang it out to dry,
I would want the sky to be…
Oh, such a grand design, an everlasting sign,
Of all the things you are to me.

You are the song that comes on summer winds,
You are the falling year that autumn brings;
You are the wonder and the mystery -
In everything I see the things you are to me.

Sometimes, I wake at night, suddenly take fright,
You might be just fantasy,
But then you reach for me and, once again I see,
All the things you are to me.

You are the song that comes on summer winds,
You are the falling year that autumn brings;
You are the wonder and the mystery -
In everything I see the things you are to me.

You are the song that comes on summer winds,
You are the falling year that autumn brings;
You are the wonder and the mystery -
In everything I see the things you are to me.

All the things you are … to me.

Music Rolf Lovland
Lyrics Brendan Graham

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IF CAME THE HOUR
Special guest: Tommy Körberg

A melody from our “White Stones” album called “Passacaglia” is the melody on which “If Came The Hour” is based. It was originally a piece I wrote in memory of my father. The new lyrics by Brendan Graham capture the sentiment of parting and all things coming to an end, in a soulful way. In the powerful voice of the Swedish singer Tommy Körberg - world renowned for his original recording of “Chess” and his starring role in the musical in London - the song takes on a new and dramatic dimension - and his performance truly explores the innermost depth and melancholy of the song.

If came the hour, if came the day,
If came the year, when you went away;
How could I live? I’d surely die,
What would life be if you said ‘goodbye’?

How would I laugh, how could I love,
Could I believe in a God above?
How would I hope, how could I pray,
If came the hour,if came the day.

But you are here, lying beside me,
I watch you breathe, each rise and fall,
Without you near then there would be,
Nothing at all.

If in this world, all things must pass,
And we must raise the parting glass,
No words would ever come, what could I say,
If came the hour, if came the day?

There’d be no music in my soul,
How could I dance - no you to hold?
How could I hear the violin?
There’d be no song I could ever sing.

But you are here, lying beside me,
I watch you breathe, each rise and fall,
Without you near then there would be,
Nothing at all.

Now you’re awake, the dawn sweeps in,
I touch your mouth, I touch your skin;
How would I live, if you should go away,
If came the hour, if came the day?

How would I live, if you should go away,
If came the hour, if came the day…

If came the hour, if came the day?

Music Rolf Lovland
Lyrics Brendan Graham

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SOMETIMES A PRAYER WILL DO
Special guest: Tracey Campbell

On our second album ‘White Stones’ we recorded a melody called “Hymn to Hope”. It’s a piece we’ve performed in many concerts - but one concert in Denver gave us a memory never to be forgotten: We performed there a few days after the tragic Columbine High School shotting where several students were killed. Knowing that our audience was deeply affected by this tragedy, we dedicated “Hymn to Hope” to them to express our sympathy. After the concert, two teachers from the Columbine High School came and told us that they’d used this particular song on the very hour of the tragedy - to pray and comfort the students who’d escaped the shooting scene. We were left speechless, realizing that our music had become a part of the healing process of this traumatic event. We later shared this story with lyricist Brendan Graham, who captured what hope is in a hopeless situation in a particularly beautiful way.. We asked Tracey Campbell - the amazing gospel singer from London - to perform “Sometimes a Prayer Will Do” with us. She is also one of the soloist on our original recording of “You Raise Me Up”.

Sometimes we stumble,
Sometimes we even fall,
And we cant’t find a friend,
Can’t comprehend it all;
And we are lost,
With nothing to hold on to,
When we can’t find the answer,
Sometimes a prayer will do.

And though we wonder,
Uncertain if we will get through,
To face the future,
Sometimes a prayer will do.

Sometimes we reach,
For what’s not really there,
Sometimes we lose our grip,
Come tumbling though mid-air,
And we are searching
For something to hold on to,
When we can’t find the answer,
Sometimes a prayer will do.

And though we wonder,
Uncertain if we will get through,
To face the future,
Sometimes a prayer will do.

Then, we are stronger,
Somehow we know we will get through,
To face the future,
Sometimes a prayer will do.

Yeah, we are stronger,
Somehow we know we will get through,
To face the future,
Sometimes a prayer will do.

Sometimes a prayer will do.

Music Rolf Lovland
Lyrics Brendan Graham

********************************

SONG FOR A STORMY NIGHT
Special guest: Steinar Albrigtsen

This new song originated in the process of writing music for a Japanese animation movie. The film was based on an old tradional fairytale about two animals becoming friends inside a dark cave while seeking refuge from a stormy night. Even if they can’t see each other, they talk about their lives and share their common problems. At the break of day they realize that one is a goat and one is a wolf - enemies by nature! This story inspired us - even if the song was never used in the film. Brendan Graham took the concept in a different direction - about protecting each other in the stormy night. In the beautiful voice and storytelling preformance of Norwegian singer Steinar Albrightsen, the song comes to life with great intimacy.

The rain beats hard at my window,
While you, so softly do sleep;
And you can’t hear the cold wind blow,
You are sleeping so deep.

Outside it’s dark, the moon hiding,
By starlight only I see,
The hosts of the night-time go riding,
But you are safe here with me.

So, while the world out there is sleeping,
And everyone wrapped up so tight,
Oh, I am a vigil here keeping,
On this stormy night;
I promised I always would love you,
If skies would be grey or be blue,
I whisper this prayer now above you,
That there will always be you.

Sometimes, we’re just like the weather,
Changing by day after day,
As long as we’ll be together,
Storms will pass away.

I said I would guard and protect you,
Keep you free from all harm;
And if life should ever reject you,
That love would weather each storm.

So, while the world out there is sleeping,
And everyone wrapped up so tight,
Oh, I am a vigil here keeping,
On this stormy night;
I promised I always would love you,
If skies would be grey or be blue,
I whisper this prayer now above you,
That there will always be you.

Soon, I know you’ll be waking,
Ask did I sleep - did I write?
And I’ll just say I was making…
A song… for a stormy night.

Music Rolf Lovland
Lyrics Brendan Graham

********************************

I’VE DREAMED OF YOU
Special guest: Barbra Streisand

The very first artist to transform a Secret Garden instrumental into a vocal song was Barbra Streisand. She wrote to us after hearing our music on a trip to Ireland in 1998 asking if we’d approve to have words written to “Heartstrings” - originally a duo for violin and piano on our first album - ‘Songs from a Secret Garden’. It later turned out that she performed it as her personal wedding song to James Brolin in 1999. The American artist and songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway wrote the lyric - beautifully suited for the ceremony. Being the first artist to record a vocal version of our music, it was essential for us to ask Barbra Streisand to be a special guest as part of our own vocal album. She most generously agreed to let us use her own recording of “I’ve Dreamed Of You”, first released as a single from the album ‘A Love Like Ours’, then recorded again live for the ‘Millennium Concert’ in Las Vegas and finally released on her ‘Essential Streisand’ album. We are eternally grateful for all the support she’s given us through the years.

I’ve dreamed of you
Always feeling you were there
And all my life
I have searched for you ev’rywhere
I caught your smile
In the morning sun
I heard your whisper on the breeze of night
I prayed one day
That your arms would hold me tight

And just when I
Thought love had passed me by we met
That first look
In your eyes I can’t forget
You melted me
With your tender touch
I felt all fear and sorrow slip away
Now here we stand
Hand in hand this blessed day

I promise you
As I give to you my heart
That nothing
In this world shall keep us apart
Come happily
Ever after be
The man I’ll love until the very end
I’ve dreamed of you
My great love and my best friend

Now God must know
How I love you so
He’s blessed us here today
As man and wife
Come dream with me
As I have dreamed of you
All my life
Come dream with me
As I have dreamed of you
All my life

Music Rolf Lovland
Lyrics by Ann Hampton Callaway

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DID I NOT LOVE YOU
Special guest: Peter Corry

I woke up one morning with this new melody in my head while on a vacation in beautiful Tuscany in 2006. I was studying the script to ‘The Mermaid Chair’ and had started to prepare for the musical score to the Inn. Composing the score turned out to be a hectic but very educational process. In collaboration with director Steven Schachter, we decided to let the music ask questions rather than give answers - to allow the music to be sensitive and insecure and never be overly condent… In this context, the statement of “Did I Not Love You” was too powerful, so we couldn’t t it into the story. But the script inspired Brendan Graham to write this lyric - about the souls of two people knowing each other even before they ever met… about a love beyond forever. Irish singer Peter Corry performed the leading role as Javert in “Les Misérables” in London for many years. His beautiful, lyrical baritone gives “Did I Not Love You” a sense of drama and passion which musically brings it back to Italy - where it was 1st inspired.

Did I not love you,
Before this lifetime?
Did you not hear,
My music in your soul?
Did I not need you,
Beyond forever?
And now I’ll leave you …
Not for ever more.

The widest ocean,
I have crossed over,
No boat did I row,
But love to carry me;
I have been ever,
In constant motion,
I have been finding you,
Eternally.

And I’ve been travelling,
Throughout the ages,
Down through the pages,
Of history;
Just for this moment,
This timeless moment,
This wondrous moment…
Of you and me.

Did I not love you,
Before this lifetime?
Did you not hear,
My music in your soul?
Did I not need you,
Beyond forever?
And now I’ll leave you …
Not for ever more

Did I not need you,
Beyond forever?
And now I’ll leave you…
Not for ever more…

And I will leave you…
Not for ever more.

Music Rolf Lovland
Lyrics by Brendan Graham

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SIMPLY YOU
Special guest: Niamh Kavanagh

Early in the work process for this album, a lyric with no title or reference as to what melody it was written to landed on my fax. Brendan Graham had penned a beautiful lyric, but wanted me to find out to which Secret Garden melody it was for - without revealing it to me. I really needed to listen through a lot of melodies before I eventually discovered that he’d written the words to “Ode to Simplicity” - a simple instrumental composition from our first album. It was not a typical song and we weren’t even sure it would work as a vocal. We asked the Irish singer Niamh Kavanagh - renowned for her role in the film ‘The Commitments’ and also as the 1993 Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest with “In Your Eyes” - to help us sing a few demos. Much to our surprise and excitement, “Simply You” turned out to be the unexpected “hit” of the session. Niamh’s approach - her timing and phrasing was so unique and instantly became inseparable from the song.

You’re not alpha not omega,
You’re not New York - you’re not
Vegas… simply you;
You’re not major, you’re not minor
you’re not LA, you’re much finer… simply you.

I can’t paint it, I can’t play it,
There’s no other way to say it… simply you;
I don’t care who comprehends it,
My whole world begins and ends with… simply you.

You’re my train from every station,
You’re my final destination… simply you;
When I’m losing, when I’m winning,
You’re in every song I’m singing… simply you.

I can’t paint it, I can’t play it,
There’s no other way to say it… simply you;
I don’t care who comprehends it,
My whole world begins and ends with… simply you.

You’re the dance and you’re the dancer,
You’re the call and you’re the answer… simply you;
I don’t mean to overstate it,
There’s no need to complicate it… simply you.

I can’t paint it, I can’t play it,
There’s no other way to say it… simply you;
I don’t care who comprehends it,
My whole world begins and ends with… simply you…

I don’t care who comprehends it,
My whole world begins and ends with… simply you…
Simply you …

Music Rolf Lovland
Lyrics Brendan Graham

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MY LAND
Special guest: Espen Grjotheim

In 2005 Norway celebrated the 100 year anniversary of the friendly separation from Sweden - to become an independent state. As a composer and as a relative to Jörgen Lövland - the Norwegian prime minister of the Norwegian government in Sweden, and the main architect behind the separation draft - I was aksed to write music to celebrate this historic event. In a local concert in Evje, my father’s birthplace, Fionnuala and I performed this tune as a simple instrumental piece with violin and piano only. Later, Brendan Graham and his daughter Alana Graham wrote the words to it using the theme of national identity and love for your home country as inspiration for the story. The talented young Norwegian singer Espen Grjotheim first demoed this song for us. With his beautiful, pure voice he instantly and naturally captured the right feeling of the song and made it into his own.

How green are your valleys, how blue your great skies,
Your mountains stand tall in their glory;
Your rivers run free - the bright stars are your eyes,
Your beauty is endless before me.

For you are the song ever singing in me,
And you see the heart ever true;
For you are my land and you always will be,
The voice ever calling me home to you.

When to your green valleys some day I return,
When you lay you mantle around me;
At rest I will be where the heart will not yearn,
Then my land will ever surround me.

For you are the song ever singing in me,
And you see the heart ever true;
For you are my land and you always will be,
The voice ever calling me home to you.

The voice ever calling me… home to you

Music Rolf Lovland
Lyrics Brendan Graham / Alana Graham

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YOU RAISE ME UP
Special guest: Brian Kennedy

When we started talking about making an album of vocals our friends responded with “what’s a Secret Garden vocal album without “You Raise Me Up”? Many artists have brought our song to No. 1 - Josh Groban in the US with Grammy nominations, Westlife as their top-selling single ever (single of the year in UK) - Il Divo, Russel Watson, Celtic Woman and many other million-selling artists. In fact, there are more than 500 different recordings of it - and to date it has aired more than a million times on US radio. So we thought it was time to bring it back to where it all began - with Irish singer Brian Kennedy’s original recording with us - on our 2001-album Once In a Red Moon.

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.

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;
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.

You raise me up to more than I can be.

Music Rolf Lovland
Lyrics Brendan Graham