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"The Lighthouse Keeper"
"The Lighthouse Keeper"
Single by Sam Smith
from the EP The Holly & the Ivy
Released	20 November 2020
Genre	Traditional pop
Length	4:07
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Labrinth; Sam Smith;
Producer(s)	Labrinth
Sam Smith singles chronology

"The Lighthouse Keeper" is a song by British singer Sam Smith, released through Capitol Records on 20 November 2020 as a single from their extended play, The Holly & the Ivy (2020).^[1]^[2]^[3] The song was written by Labrinth and Sam Smith. It peaked at number 72 on the UK Singles Chart.

Background

"The Lighthouse Keeper" is the second time that Smith has worked with Labrinth, he features on the title track that features on Smith's third studio album Love Goes. Labrinth also produced the song.

"If any year could make me look forward to the sounds of Christmas, it would be 2020 as more than ever before we are yearning to be around our friends and family once again. Christmas symbolises that for me and earlier this year I was inspired to write a Christmas love song. Labrinth and I poured our hearts into this one and it has honestly been pure joy to create and make."
— "Listen to Sam Smith's new Christmas song ‘The Lighthouse Keeper’", NME^[4]

Composition

Written in partnership with Labrinth it is unlike anything Sam Smith has produced before. It is a throwback to the 1940s, a song with a story of Christmas reunion. The result is an unusual mix of sombre anthem and gentle lullaby, with classical-style choral backing and soft strings. The Christmas theme is subtle; the reference “home for Christmas time” doesn’t come until the end of verse two.

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "The Lighthouse Keeper" was first released onto YouTube on 23 November 2020. The animation video was created by Babekühl. It was animated by Alexis Pepper Hernandez, Andrew Yee, Billy Ryan, Chris Yee, Eva Li, Opal Liang, Patrick Santamaria and Steffie Yee while Sam was its director.^[5]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[6]

Labrinth – producer, composer, lyricist, associated performer, background vocalist, electro-acoustic realisation, recording engineer, studio personnel
Sam Smith – composer, lyricist, associated performer, vocals
Mark Deml – assistant mixer, studio personnel
Alison Dods – associated performer, violin
Andy Parker – associated performer, viola
Bruce White – associated performer, viola
Caroline Dale – associated performer, cello
Chris Laurence – associated performer, bass
Chris Worsey – associated performer, cello
David Pyatt – associated performer, French horn
Everton Nelson – associated performer, violin
Ian Burdge – associated performer, cello
Ian Humphries –associated performer, violin
Joby Burgess – associated performer, timpani
John Metcalfe – associated performer, viola
Louisa Fuller – associated performer, violin
Lucy Wilkins – associated performer, violin
Natalia Bonner – associated performer, violin
Patrick Kiernan – associated performer, violin
Reiad Chibah – associated performer, viola
Richard George – associated performer, violin
Stacey Watton – associated performer, bass
Steve Morris – associated performer, violin
Tony Woollard – associated performer, cello
Warren Zielinski – associated performer, violin
Randy Merrill – mastering engineer, studio personnel
Steve Fitzmaurice – mixer, studio personnel