We Are the Light, follows with a more optimistic sentiment. The light is the hope that people have in their hearts, and the message is not to let it be buried. If you’ve got hope, let it shine out of you. I wrote that song on Christmas Day, so it reflects how I was feeling that day. Peters, points proudly to the song’s string arrangement, the first they’ve done – Mike Peters doing a track by track guide to Declaration – Boston Rock Magazine 1984
This is a song which I wrote in the corridor of 13 Emu Road, probably a Sunday morning. I was probably the first one up, had a song in my head and didn’t want to disturb the boys. This is called We Are The Light – Mike Peters, Alarm 2000 Day
One of my favorite Alarm songs – Nigel Twist 1996 Alarm Archive Interview
We Are The Light first appeared on the Declaration album released on 13th February 1984 on Vinyl LP and Cassette. IRS later released it on CD once that format was introduced using the original recording and mix. For the Alarm 2000 Collection box set the song was remastered from the original recordings, as was the 2018 double vinyl and CD release. There have been 2 other studio recordings made of the song. In 1997 Mike Peters recorded an acoustic solo version and in 2014 reimagined the Declaration recording and recorded a new version of We Are The Light
We Are The Light was also recorded for a BBC Radio session in 1983 and more recently was included on the Declaration session recorded in relation to record store day, more information can be found in the Radio Sessions, TV Appearances, Podcast and Multi-media tab
Declaration album recording details
Running length 3:17
Written by Macdonald / Peters
Musician & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Dave Sharp – Acoustic, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass, E-bow Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Alan Shacklock – Keyboards
Backing track recorded Good Earth Studios, Soho, London W1D, England 2nd November 1983
Produced & Mixed by Alan Shacklock.
Engineered by Chris Porter
Fan Comments/Memories …….
We Are The Light is one of those songs that have accompanied special moments in Alarm shows, often when things go wrong! I have memories of this being played at Greenbelt when the power went down and Mike came to the edge of the stage and the Greenbelt security staff were lighting him up with their torches as he played it unplugged in the Big top. A similar thing happened at the Gathering when the amps went and Mike picked up his acoustic donned his miners hat with lamp and proceeded to walk around the area up into the seating tiers as the crowd joined in the unplugged. A song that in adversity creates memories live – Ian Francis
Alternative studio recording releases ~ Acoustic ~ Remastered ~ Re~imagined
1997 – Mike Peters – Acoustic Works 1981-1986
Running length: 3:17
Musicians
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion
Recorded in 1997 by Gethyn Evans at Mountain & Sea Studios, Wales
Produced by Michael Peters
2000 – The Alarm – The Alarm 2000 Collection Box Set : Declaration [1984-1985] [Remastered]
Running length: 3:18
Musician & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Dave Sharp – Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass & E-bow Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Alan Shacklock – Keyboards
Remastered from the 1983 original recording by Mike Peters
Remastering Engineered by Gary Butler @ RTS Liverpool in 2000
2014 – The Alarm – Declaration [Reimagined]
Running length: 3:14
Musicians
Mike Peters – Lead vocals, acoustic & electro-acoustic guitar, bass guitar, RC300 loop station
Steve “Smiley” Barnard – Drums, percussion & backing vocals
Jules Jones Peters – Backing vocals
Steve Allen Jones – Backing vocals
Acquire Choir under musical director Leslie Churchill Ward – Backing vocals
Choral Arrangements by Steve Allan Jones
Recorded by Andrea Wright & Mark Warden at Aerial Studios, Bethel Chapel Studios and Tape Studios Wales 2014. Produced by Michael Peters
2018 – The Alarm – Declaration [1984-1985] [Remastered]
Running length: 3:19
Musician & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Dave Sharp – Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass & E-bow Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Alan Shacklock – Keyboards
Remastered from the 1983 original recording by Pete Maher
Remastering supervised by Mike Peters
Album appearances and discography for studio versions
All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
(All Images right click to open larger in new window)
(V) 
13th February 1984 : The Alarm – Declaration
Released in the UK on vinyl IRSA 7044, cassette IRSC 7044, CD IRS CDA 7044 by IRS Records
Declaration was released on vinyl, cassette and CD in USA, Canada, Japan, Australia. Vinyl only South Korea, New Zealand, Israel, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Europe. Cassette only Netherlands
Original 1983 recording
28th October 1997 – Mike Peters – Acoustic Works 1981-1986 – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number No. 21C004. (CD) 1997 Mountain & Sea, Wales Acoustic Recording.
2000 – The Alarm – Declaration (1984-1985) – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C011 (CD). Appearing as part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set and then later as an individual disc. 1983 recorded version remastered.
2002 – The Alarm – 68 Guns compilation album released in the Netherlands on Disky, catalogue number SI 905175. (CD) Original 1983 recording.
2008 – The Alarm – Radio Sessions 1983-1991 BBC on Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C045 (CD) 13th February 1983 Kid Jensen Session version
2014 – The Alarm – Declaration – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C065 (CD). Reimagined new recording version.
2018 – The Alarm – Declaration (1984-1985) – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue numbers double vinyl LP 21C094 and double CD 21C096. 1983 recorded version remastered.
2018 – Mike Peters – Declaration // Equals // Acoustic In Session 2018 on Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C107
Officially released live recordings – Audio
All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)
27th September 1983. Recorded live at Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Band Line up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Running length 3:23
Released on CD in 1999 as The Alarm Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour. On King Biscuit Flower Hour Records, UK catalogue number KBFHCD028, USA catalogue number 70710-88049-2, Spain in 2000 catalogue number CELCD 027.
Released on CD in 2002 as The Alarm Blaze of Glory. Europe on Disky, catalogue number SI 794172
Released on DVD-Audio in 2003 as The Alarm From The Front Row ….. Live! USA on Silverline, catalogue number 288157-9
1st February 1984. Recorded live at The Penthouse, Glasgow, Scotland
Running length 3:20
Band Line up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Mastering by Dennis Blackham at Skye Mastering. Running length 3:45
Released on CD in 2003 as The Alarm The Sound & The Fury Live 1981 to 1991. Shakedown records, catalogue number SHAKEBX112Z (UK, Export)
Released on CD in 2014 as The Alarm When The Storm Broke. Secret records, catalogue number SECDD098 (UK)
12th April 1986. Recorded live at the campus of UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
Band Line up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist.
This is audio only of the “lost” encore to the broadcast
Produced by Mike Peters, Paul Sutherland & Rob Spaull
Released on CD/DVD package in 2007 as The Alarm Spirit of 86 as remastered audio on CD. Catalogue number 21C DVD011
Released on Double vinyl LP package on 16th April 2016 as The Alarm Spirit of 86 Restored and remastered.Catalogue number 21C075LP for Record Store Day
15th December 1987. Recorded live at The Vic Theatre, Chicago, Illinois. USA
Running length 3:45
Band Line up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist and Mark Taylor.
Released on CD in 2000 as The Alarm Electric Folklore [Live] 1987-1988. Catalogue number 21C014
15th January 2000. Recorded at The Gathering 8, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales
Running Length 3:12
Band Line up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve Grantley
The Gathering was billed as Mike Peters and New Electric Band.
8th December 2000. Recorded at Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, England
15th December 2000. Recorded at Shepherds Bush Empire, London W12, England
Running length 3:22
Band line up for December shows : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Richard Llewellyn, Steve Grantley. These dates were part of the tour to promote The Alarm 2000 collection and were billed as The Alarm MM.
6th February 2001. Recorded at Logo, Hamburg, Germany
13th April 2001. Recorded at The Vanderbilt, Plainview, New York, USA
(Band Line up : tbc for the Feb and April dates)
23rd August 2003. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 3:24 Mike Peters Solo acoustic.
Released in 2003 on Alarmstock Volume 4 – The New Wave Songs Are Rising
21st November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (West), Los Angeles, California, USA
Running Length 4:37
(Band Line up : tbc for the November date)
7th March 2004. Recorded at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland
Running Length 1:26
Band line up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve Grantley
28th August 2004. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 3:11 Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released in 2004 on Alarmstock 2 Volume 2 – Is A Working Man Born To Live And Then Die
6th August 2005. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London NW8, England
Running Length 5:12 Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III London Set 1 – Declaration [Take This Song Of Freedom]
13th August 2005. Recorded at Electric Lady Studio A, New York, USA
Running Length 3:09 Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III New York Set 4 – Flowers In The Dressing Room
20th August 2005. Recorded at Capitol Records Studio A, Los Angeles, California, USA
Running Length 3:09 Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III Los Angeles Set 4 – Spirit of ’86 Revisited
31st January 2009. Recorded at The Gathering 17, Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales
Running length : 2:43
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams and Steve Grantley
Released on CD in 2010 – The Alarm – Loaded, Live At The Gathering 2009 (audio highlights disc), catalogue number 21CDVD013
28th February 2009. Recorded at Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Wales
Running Length 3:05 Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2009 Mike Peters of The Alarm Live Acoustic, catalogue number 21C049
22nd October 2010. Record at King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, Scotland
Running Length 2:49 Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2010 Mike Peters // The Alarm – Direct Acoustic MMX live in Glasgow, catalogue number 21C054
28th October 2011. Record at The Academy, Manchester, England
Running Length 2:49. Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2012 Mike Peters of the Alarm – 30th Anniversary Acoustic Alarm Tour 1981-2011, catalogue number 21C059
28th January 2012. Recorded at The Gathering 20, Pontins Prestatyn Sands, Holiday Park, Prestatyn, Wales
Running length : 3.41 Band line-up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve “Smiley” Barnard, Mark Taylor and Steve Norman
Released in 2012 – The Alarm – The Music Must And Shall Be Preserved (audio disc), catalogue number 21CDVD016
5th April 2014. Recorded at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, England
Running length : 3.32 + 43 second intro Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2014 on DVD – Declaration – Live From The Deaf Institute, catalogue number 21CDVD017
18th April 2014. Recorded at McCabe’s, Santa Monica, California, USA
Running Length 3:16 Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2014 Mike Peters In Concert at McCabe’s, catalogue number 21C069
Officially released recordings – Video/DVD
All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)
12th April 1986. Recorded live at the campus of UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
Band Line up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist.
This is audio only of the “lost” encore to the broadcast
Produced by Mike Peters, Paul Sutherland & Rob Spaull
Released on CD/DVD package in 2007 as The Alarm Spirit of 86 as remastered audio with photo montage present on the DVD. Catalogue number 21C DVD011
17th December 1993. Recorded at The Gathering 2, The Town Hall, Rhyl, Wales
Mike Peters solo acoustic
Released on VHS Video in 1995 – Mike Peters – The Gathering 2
Released on DVD in 2005 – The Alarm – The Gathering History, catalogue number 21CDVD003
15th December 2000. Recorded at Shepherds Bush Empire, London W12, England
Running length 3:22
Band line up for December shows : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Richard Llewellyn, Steve Grantley.
Released in 2002 on DVD The Alarm Greatest Hits Live catalogue number 21CDVD001
9th June 2001. Recorded at The Town Hall, Rhyl, Wales
Mike Peters Solo acoustic.
Released in 2001 on DVD The Story Of The Alarm (20th Anniversary), catalogue number 21CDVD002
28th January 2006. Recorded at The Gathering 14, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales
Mike Peters solo acoustic set
Released on DVD in 2006 – The Alarm – Live At The Gathering 2006, catalogue number 21CDVD007
31st January 2009. Recorded at The Gathering 17, Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales
Running length : 2:43
Band Line Up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams and Steve Grantley
Released on CD in 2010 – The Alarm – Loaded, Live At The Gathering 2009, catalogue number 21CDVD013
28th January 2012. Recorded at The Gathering 20, Pontins Prestatyn Sands, Holiday Park, Prestatyn, Wales
Running length : 3.41 Band line-up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve “Smiley” Barnard, Mark Taylor and Steve Norman
Released in 2012 – The Alarm – The Music Must And Shall Be Preserved, catalogue number 21CDVD016
5th April 2014. Recorded at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, England
Running length : 3.32 + 43 second intro Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2014 on DVD – Declaration – Live From The Deaf Institute, catalogue number 21CDVD017
Radio Sessions, TV Appearances, Podcast and Multi-media
13th February 1983 – Kid Jensen Session – Recorded for the BBC Radio One
First transmitted on 23rd February 1983
Running length 2:57
Performed by Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, Nigel Twist
Released on CD in 2008 as The Alarm – Radio Sessions 1983-1991 BBC on Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C045
10th October 2018 – National Album Day In Session at Parr Street Studios, Liverpool, England Running length 3:17 Performed by Mike Peters solo
Recorded and mixed by Paul Townrow
Released on CD in 2018 as Declaration // Equals // Acoustic In Session 2018 on Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C107
Lyrics – Declaration
People, Light up your light tonight
I wanna see you shine
Fight despair
Don’t let it get you down
Don’t let it tie you down
There’s a man with a wife and three children
Who’s been told he can’t work
There’s a boy who’s been told there’s no future
He’s been led by the blind.
And I can hear them crying
As they try to sleep through the night
I can hear them cry
Hear them cry
We are the light
We are the light
We are the light of our lives
Hold on
To what you believe is right
Don’t let anyone turn your eyes
Look ahead
Don’t stop to look behind
The past ain’t no friend of mine
There’s a failure who is standing on the corner
For he cannot see hope
There’s a blind man who is standing at the crossroads
For he cannot see light
And as we fire the candles
We must make sure they burn through the night
For if they should die
There’d be no light
We are the light
We are the light
We are the light of our lives
We are the light
We are the light of our lives
Shine your light
(We are the light)
Shine your light
Shine your light
Shine
(We are the light)
Shine your light
Shine your light
Shine your light
Shine
(We are the light)
We are the light
Shine on, Shine on, Shine
We are the light
(We are the light)
(We are the light)
Alternative Lyrics – 1997 Acoustic Works
People, Light up your light tonight
I wanna see you shine
Fight despair
Don’t let it get you down
Don’t let it tie you down
There’s a man with a wife and three children
Who’s been told he can’t work
There’s a boy who’s been told there’s no future
He’s been fed by the blind.
And I can hear them a crying
As they try to sleep through the night
I can hear them cry
Hear them cry
We are the light
We are the light
We are the light of our lives
Hold on
To what you believe is right
Don’t let anyone turn your eyes
Look ahead
Don’t stop to look behind
The past ain’t no friend of mine
There’s a failure who is standing on the corner
For he cannot see hope
There’s a blind man standing at the crossroads
For he cannot see light
And as we fire the candles
We must make sure they burn through the night
For if they should die
There’d be no light
We are the light
We are the light
We are the light of our lives
We are the light
Shine your light
Shine your light
Shine
We are the light
We are the light of our lives
Audio & Visual Sources
Audio Link – 2018 Remastered version from Declaration 1984-1985
Video Link – The Alarm Live at the Spirit of the 80’s in Lewiston NY, August 4, 2018
(Page updated 17/07/2022)