Brooke Martin
Candle on the Water is a song from Walt Disney Pictures' live-action/animated film Pete's Dragon, written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn. It was performed by Nora (Helen Reddy) as she pledges to wait for her fiancé Paul (Cal Bartlett), who has disappeared at sea. The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song in 1977 but lost to You Light Up My Life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song | Candle on the Water |
| Setting | Balcony of the lighthouse |
| Film | Pete's Dragon |
| Year | 1977 |
| Singer | Nora (Helen Reddy) |
| Nominee | Academy Award for Best Song |
| Winner | You Light Up My Life |
| Language | English |
| Translation | Jag är ditt ljus på mörka vatten (Swedish) |
| Cover | Kikki Danielsson, Miracle Musical, Anneliese van der Pol, Kristin Chenoweth, Okkervil River |
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What You'll Learn
Song lyrics
"Candle on the Water" is a song from Walt Disney Pictures' live-action/animated film Pete's Dragon, released in 1977. The song was written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn and performed by Nora (Helen Reddy) as she vows to wait for her fiancé Paul (Cal Bartlett), who has disappeared at sea. The song is set entirely on the balcony of the lighthouse in which Nora and her father, Lampie, live.
The lyrics of "Candle on the Water" reflect Nora's unwavering love and dedication to Paul, expressing her assurance that she will always be there for him, even though he is lost and drifting. She promises to be his "candle on the water," a source of light and hope in the darkness, until every wave is warm and bright.
> I'll be your candle on the water
> My love for you will always burn
> I know you're lost and drifting
> But the clouds are lifting
> Don't give up, you have somewhere to turn
> I'll be your candle on the water
> 'Till every wave is warm and bright
> My soul is there beside you
> Let this candle guide you
The song continues with Nora reassuring Paul that he will make it through the difficult times and that her love will never let him go. The imagery of a candle guiding someone through the darkness and the promise of a brighter future are powerful themes in the lyrics.
"Candle on the Water" received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song in 1977, showcasing the impact and emotional resonance of its lyrics.
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Who wrote the song
"Candle on the Water" is a song written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn for the 1977 Walt Disney Pictures live-action/animated film Pete's Dragon. The song is performed by Nora (Helen Reddy) as she vows to wait for her fiancé Paul (Cal Bartlett), who has been lost at sea. The setting for the song is entirely on the balcony of the lighthouse in which Nora and her father, Lampie, live.
According to Reddy, she was told by Kasha and Hirschhorn that they deliberately placed religious and spiritual symbols within the song. The song was originally intended to be the only song featured in the film, but when it was met with acclaim, the decision was made to turn the film into a musical.
The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song in 1977 but lost to "You Light Up My Life". It has since been covered by various artists, including Swedish singer Kikki Danielsson, who released a Swedish version of the song in 1979, and Anneliese van der Pol, who sang it on the DisneyMania 4 album.
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Who performed the song
"Candle on the Water" is a song written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn for Walt Disney Pictures' 1977 live-action/animated film Pete's Dragon. In the film, the song is performed by Nora, played by Helen Reddy. In the song, Nora vows to wait for her fiancé Paul (Cal Bartlett), who has been lost at sea. The setting for the song is entirely on the balcony of the lighthouse in which Nora and her father, Lampie, live. She sings it to Paul, who has been lost at sea for over a year, but she believes he will return one day. Prior to the song, Lampie scolds Nora, telling her to accept that Paul is likely dead and will never return, only to apologize for his outburst. Dismayed, Nora retires to the lighthouse balcony and sings toward the ocean, assuring Paul that she is still waiting for him.
The song was originally intended to be the only song featured in the film, but when it was met with acclaim, the decision was made to turn the film into a musical. According to Reddy, Kasha and Hirschhorn deliberately placed religious and spiritual symbols within the song. The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1977 but lost to "You Light Up My Life".
Since its original release, "Candle on the Water" has been covered by several other artists. In 1979, the song was covered by Swedish singer Kikki Danielsson, translated into Swedish as "Jag är ditt ljus på mörka vatten" by translator Doreen Denning for Danielsson's album Rock'n Yodel. The song has also been covered by Anneliese van der Pol on the DisneyMania 4 album, as well as by Kristin Chenoweth and an unidentified a cappella group in the dramedy Pushing Daisies in the episode "The Legend of Merle McQuoddy". Other covers include a 2014 release by Miracle Musical dedicated to the memory of Diem Brown and Trevelyn Grace Campbell, and a version by Okkervil River.
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Where does the song appear
"Candle on the Water" is a song written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn for Walt Disney Pictures' live-action/animated film Pete's Dragon, released in 1977. In the film, the song is performed by Nora (Helen Reddy) as she vows to wait for her fiancé Paul (Cal Bartlett), who has disappeared at sea. The setting for the song is entirely on the balcony of the lighthouse in which Nora and her father, Lampie, live.
The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song in 1977 but lost to "You Light Up My Life". Despite this, the song has endured as a popular and well-known Disney song. It has been covered by various artists, including Swedish singer Kikki Danielsson, who released a Swedish-language version of the song on her album "Rock'n Yodel" in 1979. It has also been featured on the DisneyMania 4 album, performed by Anneliese van der Pol, and briefly in the dramedy series Pushing Daisies in the episode "The Legend of Merle McQuoddy".
In addition to these appearances, "Candle on the Water" has also been covered by other artists, including Miracle Musical and Okkervil River. The song's impact and popularity have ensured its place in popular culture, with various renditions and interpretations contributing to its legacy.
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Nominations and awards
"Candle on the Water" is a song written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn for Walt Disney Pictures' live-action/animated film Pete's Dragon, released in 1977. The song was performed by Nora (Helen Reddy) as she vows to wait for her fiancé Paul (Cal Bartlett), who has disappeared at sea.
"Candle on the Water" received the following nominations and awards:
- Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song in 1977. However, it lost to "You Light Up My Life".
- Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
The song has been covered and featured in various albums and shows. In 1979, Swedish singer Kikki Danielsson covered the song, translated into Swedish as "Jag är ditt ljus på mörka vatten" by translator Doreen Denning. It was also covered by Miracle Musical and released on December 14, 2014. Anneliese van der Pol sang the song on the DisneyMania 4 album. Additionally, Kristin Chenoweth and an unidentified a cappella group briefly performed "Candle on the Water" in the dramedy Pushing Daisies in the episode "The Legend of Merle McQuoddy."
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Frequently asked questions
"Candle on the Water" is a song written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn for the 1977 film Pete's Dragon.
Nora, played by Helen Reddy, performed the song in the film.
Nora sings to her lover, Paul, who has disappeared at sea. She vows to wait for him, assuring him that she is still waiting.
Yes, "Candle on the Water" has been covered by various artists, including Kikki Danielsson, Miracle Musical, Anneliese van der Pol, and Kristin Chenoweth.
Yes, "Candle on the Water" was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song in 1977 but lost to "You Light Up My Life".
