Alla Luce del Sole

I don’t know much about Josh Groban, but I certainly enjoy his music. The man definitely has talent.

I guess he can best be described as an American Andrea Bocelli, lending a classical style and a tenor voice to a broad variety of musical genres. Some are just sappy love songs, the typical boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, please don’t-leave-me type of songs, but even these have a certain grace, dignity and class thanks to Groban’s commanding voice and classical accompaniment. The fact that many of his songs are sung in flawless Italian or Spanish further broadens their appeal.

While I am not sure of his religious background, a number of his songs seem decidedly Christian, such as his rendition of Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring or You Raise Me Up (Though the latter doesn’t explicitly mention Jesus.) Others , such as Remember When It Rained (one of my favorites) are even less overtly Christian, but they have all the markings of a believer’s prayer.



Another favorite of mine is Groban’s rendition of Alla Luce del Sole ("By the light of the sun", written by Guido Morra amd Maurizio Fabrizio). This too is a prayer, but one that is not all sweetness and light. It reminds me of Psalm 13, the prayer of a genuine believer who, for whatever reason, is going through a season of life where God seems distant or is not listening. There is anguish in his heart and he is tempted to fear that God has abandoned him, but beneath the sorrow there is a firm and quiet confidence that God is indeed there and cares for Him, and that the darkness will pass.

Though the Christian life is in many ways characterized by “an inexpressible and glorious joy” , Christians will also go through “Psalm 13” seasons of life, some more than others. But God is faithful to bring them through. Alla Luce del Sole is a modern day Psalm 13. If you haven't heard this beautul song before, check out the YouTube video below, followed by the lyrics along with my loose translation.

Qui c'è il buio fuori di me
     There is darkness all around me here
ed anche un po’ dentro di me... 
     And there is even some darkness within
che assurdità questa città senza persone! 
    How absurd is this desolate city!


Io non so spiegar neanche come 
     I can’t even explain how
ma non è questa la mia dimensione, 
     But I am out of my element
e la mia mente non è mai in pace, 
     And my mind is never at peace
è sempre altrove. 
     It is always wandering

Tu dove sei? La tua voce dov'è? 
     Where are You? Where is Your voice?
Senza di te, senza il tuo aiuto 
     Without You, without Your help
che sarà di me? 
     What will become of me?

Tutto sembrerà migliore 
     All will seem better
alla luce che verrà dal sole! 
     By the light that will come from the sun.
Questa notte passerà 
     This night shall pass
il buio che c'è si dissolverà! 
     And this present darkness will fade away

Si vedranno le colline, 
     The hills will become visible
io continuerò a cercare te.
     And I will keep on seeking You.


Via da questa malinconia 
     Far from this melancholy
invidia o rabbia che sia. 
     Whether its envy or rage
Qui nel mio cuore 
    Here in my heart
non voglio più queste parole.
      I don’t want these words any longer

Tu dove sei? Il tuo sorriso dov'è? 
     Where are You? Where is Your smile?
Senza di te, senza il tuo amore 
     Without You, without Your love
che sarà di me? 
     What will become of me?

Tutto sembrerà migliore 
     All will seem better
alla luce che verrà dal sole!
     By the light that will come from the sun.
Questa notte passerà, 
     This night shall pass
il buio che c'è si dissolverà! 
     And this present darkness will fade away

E alla luce di quel sole 
     And by the light of that sun
Io continuerò a cercare te. 
     I will keep on seeking You.

Tutto sembrerà migliore, 
     All will seem better
alla luce, al sole.
    by the light, under the sun
Il silenzio morirà, 
    The silence will die away
la gente che c'è si confonderà. 
     And this people here will be confounded
E alla luce di quel sole 
     And by the light of that sun
Io continuerò a cercare te 
     I will keep on seeking You.