How Can Heaven Love Me

Sarah Brightman's 'How Can Heaven Love Me' is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of love, loss, and the existential struggle between earthly desires and divine expectations. The song, featuring Chris Thompson, delves into the complexities of human emotions and the quest for understanding one's place in the universe. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a fall from grace, with celestial imagery such as 'descending stars from golden clouds' and 'bringer of light from on high,' symbolizing a loss of innocence and purity.

The recurring question, 'How can heaven love me?' reflects a deep sense of unworthiness and doubt. This line, repeated by both Brightman and Thompson, underscores the internal conflict of feeling disconnected from a higher power or divine love. The song suggests that despite their love 'in a time before the fall,' the characters are now grappling with solitude and the harsh realities of their existence. The German verse sung by Thompson, 'Die Welt ein Tor / Zu tausend Wüsten stumm und kalt,' translates to 'The world a gate / To a thousand deserts mute and cold,' further emphasizing the desolation and isolation felt by the characters.

The song's structure, alternating between Brightman's ethereal vocals and Thompson's grounded delivery, mirrors the tension between the heavenly and the earthly. The lyrics 'We'd fight with the gods for our dreams / Where paradise falls eternity screams' highlight the characters' defiance and their struggle to reconcile their dreams with their reality. Ultimately, 'How Can Heaven Love Me' is a poignant reflection on the human condition, the search for meaning, and the eternal question of whether one is deserving of divine love.