Survivors’ Anthem Series #26: “You Raise Me Up” - Paul Byrom, Emmet Cahill (Celtic Thunder) & Josh Groban
- Shannon Brown
- Mar 13
- 3 min read
The People Who Lift Us When We Can’t Stand Alone
Some survivor anthems are about strength we find within ourselves.
Others remind us of the people who helped carry us when we couldn’t carry ourselves.
This is Survivors’ Anthem # 26:
“You Raise Me Up” - performed by Paul Byrom and Emmet Cahill of Celtic Thunder, and by Josh Groban
And for me, this song will always belong to someone very special in my life.
My aunt.
Music That Became a Tradition
My aunt and I have been going to Celtic Thunder concerts since their debut album. Over the years we’ve shared so many incredible experiences together - concerts, the cruise, and even solo performances by the singers.
Music became something we shared, something that connected us.
Those moments weren’t just concerts.
They were memories.
They were bonding.
They were joy.
And they are some of the moments I treasure most.
The First Time I Heard It Live
I will never forget the first time I heard Paul Byrom sing “You Raise Me Up” live with the bagpipes.
The moment the music started building and his voice rose with the pipes behind him, my entire body reacted. Goosebumps covered my arms. The emotion in his voice was so powerful and beautiful that it felt almost overwhelming.
It was one of those moments where music reaches you somewhere deeper than words ever could.
And every time I hear it now, it still has that same effect.
It still makes me cry. Emmet brings a new voice but just as much emotional depth!
The People Who Raise Us Up
For me, this song is more than a beautiful performance.
It represents the people in our lives who lift us up when we need it most.
My aunt has always been that person for me.
She has been a source of strength, love, and stability through so many chapters of my life. In many ways, she has been like a second mom to me, someone who showed up, supported me, and reminded me that I wasn’t alone.
Survivors don’t always make it through life because of strength alone.
Sometimes we make it through because someone stood beside us.
Another Voice That Carries the Song
My aunt and I are also huge Josh Groban fans, and we’ve had the privilege of seeing him perform “You Raise Me Up” live as well.
Josh brings a different kind of power to the song, a soaring, emotional strength that fills the room the moment he sings those first lines.
Whether it’s Paul Byrom with the bagpipes or Josh Groban’s powerful delivery, this song always carries the same message:
There are people in our lives who lift us higher than we ever thought possible.
A Thank You
To Paul Byrom, Emmet Cahill, and Celtic Thunder, thank you for creating performances that carry such beauty and emotion.
And to Josh Groban, thank you for bringing this song to audiences with such heart and power.
Your voices have created moments that people carry with them for a lifetime.
What This Anthem Means to Me
For me, this anthem is about gratitude.
Gratitude for the people who stand beside us.
Gratitude for the voices that move us.
And gratitude for the people who help us believe we can stand again when life has knocked us down.
Because sometimes the strongest survivors are not the ones who fought alone.
They are the ones who were raised up by someone who loved them enough to help them keep going.
What’s Next in the Survivors’ Anthem Series
Every song in this series represents a different stage of healing.
Some songs helped me survive.
Some helped me process anger and grief.
Some helped me reclaim my voice.
This anthem represents something equally important:
The people who helped lift us when we needed it most.
As the series continues, I’ll keep sharing the songs that shaped my journey through survival, healing, and strength.
Because sometimes the music that helps us heal…
is also the music that reminds us who stood beside us.
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