To where you are

Josh Groban
I heard a song on the radio that sounded familiar and, thinking it was from a musical, searched around for it. I discovered that it is sung by Josh Groban, a 20-year-old baritone. The lyrics were written by Linda Thompson (David Foster’s wife) and Richard Marx composed the music, wrote the arrangement and produced it. I mention David Foster because he discovered Groban and continues to manage the blossoming career.

Groban’s voice is similar to Andrea Bocelli’s, of whom I’m already a fan. I have listened to the new album and while I consider To Where You Are far superior, the rest of the songs all merit a listen.

Update: I have never seen anything on Amazon with so many reviews and 5 stars. I own the CD and love it, but it’s amazing that over 1,000 reviewers have given him a five star standing ovation.

Comments

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  1. I’m looking for the story behind the song “To Where You Are”. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Comment by Larry B. Meredith on February 23, 2003 @ 7:33 am
  2. I think that josh groban has the greatest voice. I’m a very big fan. I especially love “to where you are,” that’s my favoritesong among all others.

    Comment by Anonymous on March 6, 2003 @ 8:08 pm
  3. Josh Groban is and always be one of my most favorite singers they guy can sing and he really puts a lot of emotion into how he feels we he bring out those beautiful songs

    Comment by Kate on January 6, 2004 @ 12:24 am
  4. Like Larry above, I am curious about the story behind To Where You Are and why it was written. It is the most beautiful song I have every heard. Recently lost the love of my life and I play this song constantly.

    Comment by Judy Croy on February 2, 2004 @ 1:57 pm
  5. Judy: After seeing Larry’s request I searched and searched for the story behind the lyrics but found nothing. I’ll see what I can find this time around.

    Comment by dan on February 2, 2004 @ 2:33 pm
  6. Nothing. I renewed my search with the hopes of finding something, but the words are so darn common. All but one word in the title (To Where You Are) is considered very common by Google, leaving the word ‘you’ as the only valid uncommon word. A search for “you” gives 979 million results, making it a rather common word in my opinion and leaving me with nothing to search for.

    I wasn’t able to find much about Linda Thompson either, the author of the lyrics. If someone could find her contact info, maybe we could e-mail her and ask.

    Comment by dan on February 3, 2004 @ 12:36 am
  7. Dan, try searching with quotes around phrases like that. A search for ‘”to where you are”‘ returns ~10k results, while a search for ‘”to where you are” “josh groban” story’ returns nearly ~2k.

    Comment by Levi on February 3, 2004 @ 9:44 am
  8. I know, and I tried that, but the results were all lyrics pages. Then I realized that all of the words in the title were common words, and it intrigued me so I wrote about that part.

    If you’re able to find something, please let me know. I thought I’d finally found the site I was searching for, but then realized it was this page.

    Comment by dan on February 3, 2004 @ 10:21 am
  9. The closest I found was an interview with Josh where he talked about how the song was comforting to those who lost loved ones. Perhaps that’s all the story there is to be found.

    Comment by Levi on February 3, 2004 @ 10:39 am
  10. That’s what I’ve been thinking too. The most I found was a schoolteacher that used non-standard (considered weird by students) methods to get her students to sing with passion, and was having them sing “To Where You Are” in memory of a loved one.

    Comment by dan on February 3, 2004 @ 10:50 am
  11. http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/joshgroban/towhereyouare.html

    Took me about 20 seconds. :) You gotta know where to look.

    Comment by Cameron on February 3, 2004 @ 11:23 am
  12. Uh-oh. Now I feel dumb. I thought you were looking for the lyrics, and I just realized you’re looking for the story behind them. Silly me. Of course, now I’m gonna have to spend a bunch of time looking to redeem myself.

    Comment by Cameron on February 3, 2004 @ 11:29 am
  13. Hah. Good one Cameron, that was funny.

    Comment by dan on February 3, 2004 @ 11:32 am
  14. Ok. This time it’s better.

    Here’s the site with an interview:
    http://www.orcasound.com/reviews/josh_groban_interview2002.html

    Here’s what he says:
    “The song I did “To Where You Are” was a tribute to my mother, who dies in the episode but also to those who died in the tragedy.”

    It appears that it was written for the tv show (Ally McBeal) he was in.

    Comment by Cameron on February 3, 2004 @ 11:38 am
  15. …speaking of Sept. 11

    Comment by Cameron on February 3, 2004 @ 11:40 am
  16. How long have you been in this country? Nice work.

    I think you’ve done it. The conclusion is that the song was written as a tribute to those who died on September 11th.

    Also, I was confused at first, but I believe he’s talking about his character’s mother, because he says she dies in the episode.

    Comment by dan on February 3, 2004 @ 11:49 am
  17. No,the song is not written as a tribute to those who died in 1.sept..Thats why he sings it in the episode, not the real story..the episode is about 11.sept, and because of that he sings to the mother he loses in the serie and to the people left behind after 11.sept..i dont think the song as an spesific stroy behind it..Its simply for everyone who has lost someone..

    Comment by Hodan on February 17, 2004 @ 2:16 pm
  18. I listened to a Josh concernt on PBS last night, and there was also mention to this song being written in memory of a ladies husband who was a Sheriff who died in the line of duty.
    Anyways, it is a pretty song.

    Comment by dani J on March 17, 2004 @ 10:26 pm
  19. does anyone know what the phrase
    “And isn’t faith believing
    All power can’t be seen”
    in “to where you are” means?
    if yes, please explain it to me, because I’m not english. I can translate ist, but I don’t get the sense of it.
    thanx

    Comment by c on April 3, 2004 @ 1:30 pm
  20. does anyone know where I can find guitar chords of the song?

    Comment by anni on April 4, 2004 @ 6:56 am
  21. You can get them here for $3.95.

    Comment by dan on April 6, 2004 @ 9:28 am
  22. Knowing someone who just lost their son in a tagic accident, “To Where You Are” would be most comforting for them to listen to. I have heard Josh Groban’s recording,it is beautiful. However the couple have difficulty with the english language, is there a spanish version.

    Comment by helen on April 12, 2004 @ 8:28 pm
  23. I realy2 love josh groban he is singing with his soul not only with his beautifull voice, can you help me to find out anything about him and his family. I already chek his website in anywhere but i’m not satisfied with the news, its not complete enough. I would appriciate your help, thanks.

    Comment by rauf on May 7, 2004 @ 4:52 pm
  24. The love and light of my life died in March, 2004. I had mentioned “Deep Purple” and “September Song” as holding special places in my heart for her. A cousin of my wife suggested that I look up the song “To Where You Are”. It too, does a “thwaap” to my heart and recalls memories of the love we shared.

    Comment by TWE on June 19, 2004 @ 5:37 pm
  25. I heard a radio bit recently that this song was about his grandmother’s recent passing and that Groban was entirely fine with the idea that it is healing to all who have lost someone and that it’s special meaning is so well hidden.

    Comment by Anonymous on July 21, 2004 @ 9:37 pm
  26. is he a christian?

    Comment by gilbert on November 25, 2004 @ 7:03 pm
  27. I don’t know.

    Comment by dan on November 27, 2004 @ 11:34 am
  28. My favorite song that I have heard by him is probably, “You Raise Me Up”
    I am not sure if he is a Christian but it would be really neat if he was.

    Comment by Me on February 8, 2005 @ 1:05 pm
  29. My cousin died last weekend in a snowmobile accident. During the funeral the choir sand “You Raise Me Up”. I alrady had tears in my eyes, but the song helped me through the service by convincing me that Michael is in a better place.

    Comment by Satch on February 11, 2005 @ 9:36 pm
  30. Wow, yeah, that is sad, but that makes sence, yeah…I am sorry for you…lean on God…

    Comment by Kristy on April 19, 2005 @ 11:09 am
  31. What language does he sing in besides English??

    Comment by Me on May 16, 2005 @ 7:47 am
  32. He sings in Italian and Spanish on one of the CDs I have. He has probably sung in several other languages too.

    Comment by dan on May 16, 2005 @ 8:51 am
  33. Really? Oh ok :)
    Thanks a lot!!

    Comment by Me on May 18, 2005 @ 1:03 pm
  34. I’m looking for the meanings behind each of his songs.
    why they were written and what do they mean?
    if anyones knows any of these meanings please email me.
    thank you,
    lmse2002@hotmail.com

    Comment by Lisa on June 9, 2005 @ 1:09 pm
  35. I, too, was wondering what the story was behind this song. I thought it was from “Carosel”, but I guess not. It certainly sounds like something from a musical. Thanks for the info about Richard Marx.

    Comment by Joellen on July 17, 2005 @ 12:31 pm
  36. He wrote neither song.
    Both seem to be Christian songs.
    Regardless, God fits the profile of both songs, and God alone.

    Comment by Hannah on January 27, 2006 @ 3:46 pm
  37. I too love this song, Linda Thompson wrote it perhaps it was for Elvis Presley who was a great love of her life? Only she can say for sure but that is my theory….

    Comment by Kathe on November 4, 2006 @ 5:53 pm
  38. the song was writing for him…that part is true..and yes it was part of the series….but the song was written before that incident..and he originally sang it as a tribute to his own mother s passing..

    Comment by miricals on February 10, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
  39. I love the “February Song,” but my husband and I have different ideas as to the relationship between the singer and the reference to “that old friend.” Any ideas?

    Comment by Susan on May 9, 2007 @ 10:35 am
  40. How many languages does Josh Groban sing in?

    Comment by Sandra Ackerman on May 12, 2008 @ 7:49 pm
  41. I don’t know the exact number, but I think I’ve heard him sing in at least 4 (Spanish, French, Latin and English)

    Comment by Dan on May 12, 2008 @ 10:18 pm
  42. My late wife and I both came from strong musical backgrounds. We had a lot of “our songs”. I sang, she played piano. I only recently heard this song and although it has been six years since my wife’s passing, the lyrics brought tears to my eyes. They (the lyrics) truly express my feelings. Whatever the story behind the song is, may the lyrics bring the comfort I felt when I heard them to anyone who has lost a loved one.

    Comment by Joe Laino on August 12, 2010 @ 10:27 pm
  43. @Joe Thanks for sharing, and my condolences for your loss.

    Comment by Dan on August 12, 2010 @ 10:31 pm
  44. I’ve neen listening to some songs from 1943 on upchucky.com and that song is on there sung by Josh Groban. Was the song possibly from that era?

    Comment by Jano on December 4, 2010 @ 1:47 pm
  45. @Jano Nope, it was written by Richard Marx who was born 20 years later, in 1963.

    Comment by Dan on December 4, 2010 @ 2:04 pm
  46. For me it’s a heartfelt love song for the one true love in my life, still very much alive, thank God, but sadly out of my life…but not out of my heart and never to be out of love with her, thank you “Georgie”

    Comment by Rick Mazzola on February 4, 2012 @ 5:40 pm
  47. The song was written by Richard Marx and predates 9/11 by several years – the song does NOT have to be Christian in authorship or nature, but make of it what you will – I believe it has deep meaning for those who have lost loved-ones regardless of any religious framework. The idea that it must have meaning only because of this seems to me, in opposition of the author’s intent but I am loathe to speak on his behalf.

    Comment by Steve A on September 1, 2012 @ 6:24 pm
  48. LOVE THIS SONG ALSO GOT IT BY JIA MACDOWEL.GOING TO HAVE THIS SONG AT MY FUNERAL!!

    Comment by Kath on November 20, 2014 @ 5:07 pm
  49. Here is the official explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHStYNXnOH4

    Comment by Catherine on March 28, 2016 @ 12:23 pm
  50. @Catherine Did you watch that video? There’s no explanation of the story behind the lyrics, just that it has touched lots of people (which we already know) :)

    Comment by Dan on March 28, 2016 @ 8:27 pm

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