Amy Lott

MUS 127V

March 22, 2021

Song Report Group Two

“Candle on the Water”

“Candle on the Water” is a song composed by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn in 1977. It was

written for the live-action/animated Walt Disney Pictures film, Pete's Dragon. This song was nominated

for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1977, but lost to "You Light Up My Life." Initially

“Candle on the Water” was intended to be the only song in the film. When it became a hit, a decision

was made to make Pete's Dragon a musical, and more songs are added to the film.

The song takes place in the lantern-room balcony of a lighthouse. The lighthouse belongs to the

characters Nora and Lampie, a Father and daughter who live at the lighthouse. The song is sung by Nora

to her Fiancé, who is lost at sea. The role of Nora was originally played by Helen Reddy. Her original

recording of “Candle on the Water” reached 27 th on the Billboard charts in the US. Reddy’s career

continued to include 15 singles on the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Six of her songs made the top 10 and

three reached number one, including her most well-known hit "I Am Woman." While researching this song, I

learned Helen Reddy passed away this year during the pandemic, at the age of 78. She died in a skilled

nursing facility for retired entertainers in Los Angeles. Although COVID has not been listed as a cause of

death, friends and family report that her health took a sharp decline after isolation precautions were

enforced.
 ”Come Again, Sweet Love Doth Now Invite"

“Come Again, Sweet Love Doth Now Invite" is a song composed by John Dowland. It was

included in Dowland's First Booke of Songes or Ayres, which appeared in 1597. The First Booke of Songes

or Ayres was Dowland’s first published collection of music. The song “Come Again, Sweet Love Doth Now

Invite" was written for soloist and lute player.

Dowland was one of the most stylish of English Renaissance composers. He is often considered

the first songwriter as the term is understood today. This is understandable, as the universal human

theme of unreturned love has stood the test of time. The song illustrates the emotional ups and down of

a love no longer returned, something most people can relate to at some point in life. It has been

recorded and performed many times, by many types of musicians that truly span modern genres. For

example, recently it was recorded by the Scottish tenor Paul Agnew, and the pop singer known as Sting.