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"Candle on the Water" is the signature song written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn from Walt Disney Pictures live-action/animated film Pete's Dragon. It is sung by Nora and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song in 1977, though it lost to "You Light Up My Life".

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 her lover, Paul, who has been lost at sea for over a year but she thinks he will return one day. One night Lampie teases her about this and she retires to the balcony to sing toward the ocean, assuring Paul that she is still waiting for him.

The song was sung on the DisneyMania 4 album by Anneliese van der Pol. It was also sung briefly by Kristin Chenoweth and an unidentified a cappella group in the dramedy Pushing Daisies in the episode "The Legend of Merle McQuoddy".

According to Reddy, she was informed by Kasha and Hirschhorn that "they deliberately placed religious and spiritual symbols within the song."

The soundtrack for the 2016 remake features a newly-recorded version of the song, performed by Okkervil River.[1]

Lyrics[]

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 ev'ry wave is warm and bright
My soul is there beside you
Let this candle guide you
Soon, you'll see a golden stream of light

A cold and friendless tide has found you
Don't let the stormy darkness pull you down
I'll paint a ray of hope around you
Circling in the air
Lighted by a prayer

I'll be your candle on the water
This flame inside of me will grow
Keep holding on, you'll make it
Here's my hand, so take it
Look for me, reaching out to show
As sure as rivers flow

I'll never let you go
I'll never let you go
I'll never let you go

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 ev'ry wave is warm and bright
My soul is there beside you
Let a candle guide you
Soon, you'll feel a golden way of light

A cold and friendless tide has found you
Don't let the stormy darkness pull you down
I'll paint a halo all around you
Circling in the air
Lighted by a prayer

(instrumental)

I'll be your candle on the water
This flame inside of me will grow
Keep holding on, you can make it
Here's my hand, so take it
Look for me, reaching out to show
As sure as rivers flow

I'll never let you go
I'll never let you go
I'll never let you go
I'll never let you go

Other Versions[]

Performer(s) Title(s) Translations(s) Language
Lisbeth Dahl "Jeg er ditt lys i horisonten" "I Am Your Light on the Horizon" Danish
Brigitte Virtudes "Un petit point de lumière" "A Small Point of Light" French
Katja Ebstein "Lichtschein auf dem Wasser" "Light Shining on the Water" German
Erika Pápai "Messzi útra hív a tenger" "Far Away from Calling in the Sea" Hungarian
Betty Curtis "Sarò la luce che ti guida" "I Will Be the Light That Guides You" Italian
杉村理加 (Rika Sugimura) Japanese
Matilde "Faro sobre el agua" "Lighthouse on the Water" Latin Spanish
Lena Ericsson "Jag är ditt ljus på mörka vatten" "I Am Your Light on the Dark Water" Swedish

Gallery[]

Video[]

References[]

v - e - d
Pete's Dragon 2016 logo
Media
Pete's Dragon (soundtrack/video) • Remake (soundtrack) • House of Mouse
Disney Parks
Parades: Main Street Electrical Parade
Characters
Original: PeteElliottNoraLampieDr. TerminusHoagyThe GogansPaulThe MayorMiss TaylorFerdinand (deleted)

Remake: Conrad MeachamGrace MeachamNatalie MagaryJack MagaryGavin MagarySheriff Gene Dentler

Songs
Original: The Happiest Home in These HillsBop Bop Bop Bop Bop (I Love You, Too)I Saw a DragonIt's Not EasyPassamaquoddyCandle on the WaterThere's Room for EveryoneEvery Little PieceBrazzle Dazzle DayBill of SaleThe Greatest Star Of All (deleted)

Remake: The Dragon SongNobody KnowsSomething Wild

Locations
MainePassamaquoddyThe Gogan FarmhousePassamaquoddy LightPassamaquoddy Schoolhouse
See also
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
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