The Lark Ascending was inspired by George Meredith's poem of the same name, which relates the story of a skylark singing an incredibly beautiful, almost heavenly melody. In 1914, Vaughan Williams was working on The Lark Ascending, just as World War I began. He used his knowledge of music theory to write several songs that could be used as military airs, including this one. The Lark Ascending has been described as "one of the most popular pieces in the repertoire" and it still receives frequent performances today. It has been recorded by artists such as Dame Nellie Melba, Sir Thomas Beecham, Yehudi Menuhin, Vladimir Horowitz, and Pablo Casals. In conclusion, The Lark Ascending means a song that sounds like it comes from heaven.