Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Stream 'Simple Light': orcd.co/simplelightreprise
Pre-save the upcoming album You're Not a Ghost Anymore: HEART: orcd.co/jaheart
#JosephArthur
Written and performed by Joseph Arthur
Produced by David Kosten & Joseph Arthur
Mixed by David Kosten
Programming by David Kosten
Strings by Alexandros Livitsanos
Background vocals by Donna Delory
Video created by Kemmel Production ( kemmelprod.com )
Arnaud Lemaire
Dimitri Billecocq
Director / Dop : François Rousseau
Dancers : Johanna Faye & Alexandre Boccara
Make up : Axelle Dersin
Editor : Gabriel Kaluszynski
Studio Lacen Paris / Special thanks to Julie & Terry
I will be your simple light
You were mine from the very first night
And I want you to know that I will always take you home
Or help you go so far beyond
Where you been
Like a gift from a shooting star
Everyday I wonder who you are
For you’ve shown me how
To love someone beyond myself
And put the past back up on the shelf
Once again
Don’t cry baby baby don’t cry
I will always hold your hand
And toss you up into the sky
Making sure that you can land
Alone
You’re never really on your own
When you’re all alone
You’re never really on your own
You will be my beauty queen
Redefining what that even could mean
For your beauty comes from far beyond this mortal plane
Never touched by the sun or the rain
Deep within
I will be your highway sun
Shining lights on where I hope you will run
Towards a dream that fulfills your every living day on earth
From burn out back into rebirth once again
Don’t cry baby baby don’t cry
I will always hold your hand
And toss you up into the sky
Making sure that you can land
Alone
You’re never really on your own
When you’re all alone
You’re never really on your own
I will be your source for love
As it comes from the lord above
As he shows me how
To help you find your way back home
When you’re lost from the places you’ve roamed
Once again
“Simple Light” is a song I wrote on the road when I first started touring again recently.
Certain songs become a focus on the road - something you go over at soundchecks, taking your time with the verses and arrangement. This was basically the only new song I worked on and considered for about a month on the road.
For me, it had a special glow that kept me compelled - like it revealed its power before it was fully formed. “Honey and the Moon” and “In the Sun” were both like that when I wrote them, way back in the day.
Or, to put all this another way: certain songs will let you know that they have something special about them. It’s somewhat rare when it happens.
This really is a universal love song, which could be romantic in nature if it wanted to be applied that way. But my inspiration for it was my daughter, and so it also expresses paternal love - the kind of love that makes sacrifice a joy.
And how our role is to cultivate light and to bring that light to others. In this case, for my daughter.
My daughter is way more interested in singing for me rather than hearing me sing for her (which is how it should be). So our relationship around my music is rather comical. Most of my attempts to sing for her quickly turn into her interrupting and taking over all vocal duties. It makes me laugh, and it’s endearing.
But one time, my friend was playing an afternoon show and he invited me to come and told me I could sit in. I brought Alessia, and when my friend invited me up, I chose to play “Simple Light.” I said over the mic that I wrote this song for Alessia and got through a pretty good version.
When I came back to our seats, I was surprised - Alessia was crying and gave me the biggest hug, letting me know how much it moved her. I was shocked because nothing like that had ever happened before. Only being four, I didn’t even really think she would understand the spirit behind it. But she did.
She still prefers Huntrix and K-pop Demon Hunters over her dad - but that’s also as it should be.
As a related aside, I recently found out the origin of the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” (the greatest love song ever). It was written by Keith for his young son, in reaction to having to go on the road and be separated from him. I was surprised to read it, as I had never heard that before and never associated those lyrics as being directed at a child - but it turns out they were.
It made me wonder if other great love songs were actually directed from a paternal source. When one writes a song for their child, the message of total dedication has an automatic authenticity that’s more difficult to attain in a song that’s romantic in nature. Or, I guess, there’s an inherent sincerity that one can feel.
Simple Light -
To be a light for another,
one must be a light for themselves.
It’s no easy task.
But the gift this kind of love gives you
is an undying motivation to keep reaching.
Stream 'Simple Light': orcd.co/simplelightreprise
Pre-save the upcoming album You're Not a Ghost Anymore: HEART: orcd.co/jaheart
#JosephArthur
Written and performed by Joseph Arthur
Produced by David Kosten & Joseph Arthur
Mixed by David Kosten
Programming by David Kosten
Strings by Alexandros Livitsanos
Background vocals by Donna Delory
Video created by Kemmel Production ( kemmelprod.com )
Arnaud Lemaire
Dimitri Billecocq
Director / Dop : François Rousseau
Dancers : Johanna Faye & Alexandre Boccara
Make up : Axelle Dersin
Editor : Gabriel Kaluszynski
Studio Lacen Paris / Special thanks to Julie & Terry
I will be your simple light
You were mine from the very first night
And I want you to know that I will always take you home
Or help you go so far beyond
Where you been
Like a gift from a shooting star
Everyday I wonder who you are
For you’ve shown me how
To love someone beyond myself
And put the past back up on the shelf
Once again
Don’t cry baby baby don’t cry
I will always hold your hand
And toss you up into the sky
Making sure that you can land
Alone
You’re never really on your own
When you’re all alone
You’re never really on your own
You will be my beauty queen
Redefining what that even could mean
For your beauty comes from far beyond this mortal plane
Never touched by the sun or the rain
Deep within
I will be your highway sun
Shining lights on where I hope you will run
Towards a dream that fulfills your every living day on earth
From burn out back into rebirth once again
Don’t cry baby baby don’t cry
I will always hold your hand
And toss you up into the sky
Making sure that you can land
Alone
You’re never really on your own
When you’re all alone
You’re never really on your own
I will be your source for love
As it comes from the lord above
As he shows me how
To help you find your way back home
When you’re lost from the places you’ve roamed
Once again
“Simple Light” is a song I wrote on the road when I first started touring again recently.
Certain songs become a focus on the road - something you go over at soundchecks, taking your time with the verses and arrangement. This was basically the only new song I worked on and considered for about a month on the road.
For me, it had a special glow that kept me compelled - like it revealed its power before it was fully formed. “Honey and the Moon” and “In the Sun” were both like that when I wrote them, way back in the day.
Or, to put all this another way: certain songs will let you know that they have something special about them. It’s somewhat rare when it happens.
This really is a universal love song, which could be romantic in nature if it wanted to be applied that way. But my inspiration for it was my daughter, and so it also expresses paternal love - the kind of love that makes sacrifice a joy.
And how our role is to cultivate light and to bring that light to others. In this case, for my daughter.
My daughter is way more interested in singing for me rather than hearing me sing for her (which is how it should be). So our relationship around my music is rather comical. Most of my attempts to sing for her quickly turn into her interrupting and taking over all vocal duties. It makes me laugh, and it’s endearing.
But one time, my friend was playing an afternoon show and he invited me to come and told me I could sit in. I brought Alessia, and when my friend invited me up, I chose to play “Simple Light.” I said over the mic that I wrote this song for Alessia and got through a pretty good version.
When I came back to our seats, I was surprised - Alessia was crying and gave me the biggest hug, letting me know how much it moved her. I was shocked because nothing like that had ever happened before. Only being four, I didn’t even really think she would understand the spirit behind it. But she did.
She still prefers Huntrix and K-pop Demon Hunters over her dad - but that’s also as it should be.
As a related aside, I recently found out the origin of the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” (the greatest love song ever). It was written by Keith for his young son, in reaction to having to go on the road and be separated from him. I was surprised to read it, as I had never heard that before and never associated those lyrics as being directed at a child - but it turns out they were.
It made me wonder if other great love songs were actually directed from a paternal source. When one writes a song for their child, the message of total dedication has an automatic authenticity that’s more difficult to attain in a song that’s romantic in nature. Or, I guess, there’s an inherent sincerity that one can feel.
Simple Light -
To be a light for another,
one must be a light for themselves.
It’s no easy task.
But the gift this kind of love gives you
is an undying motivation to keep reaching.
