In the darkness God will keep me
He will stay and never sleep
In the darkness God is brighter
Though the night is long and deep
All this day Your hand has held me
God of Heaven, by my side
Thank you, Father, for Your goodness
You will hold me through the night
In the shadows You are with me
And you know my every fear
In the shadows none can harm me
For the mighty King is here
All this day Your hand has held me
God of Heaven, by my side
Thank you, Father, for Your goodness
You will hold me through the night
So I find my rest in Jesus
He who came to rescue me
Jesus saved me from the darkness
I will rise to life with him
All this day Your hand has held me
God of Heaven, by my side
Thank you, Father, for Your goodness
You will hold me through the night
All this day Your hand has held me
God of Heaven, by my side
Thank you, Father, for Your goodness
You will hold me through the night
You will hold me through the night
The Night Song
Song Meaning
CityAlight and Colin Buchanan wrote “The Night Song” as a bedtime lullaby for children and a prayer for adults. The first verse states the premise: “In the darkness God will keep me, He will stay and never sleep.” The darkness is not removed, but God is “brighter” in it, “though the night is long and deep.” The tune is gentle, and the lines are short enough for a child to learn.
The second verse gives thanks for the day, “All this day Your hand has held me, God of heaven, by my side,” and for God's hold through the night. The third deals with fear: “In the shadows You are with me, and You know my every fear. In the shadows none can harm me, for the mighty King is here.” The last verse brings in the gospel. “So I find my rest in Jesus, He who came to rescue me. Jesus saved me from the darkness, I will rise to life with Him,” which ties daily sleep to the hope of resurrection.
God who neither slumbers nor sleeps is Psalm 121:3-4. Lying down in peace is Psalm 4:8, and darkness that is not dark to God is Psalm 139:11-12.