Pastorale
Bukas Palad Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am your reed, sweet shepherd, glad to be
Now if you will, breathe out your joy in me
And make bright songs or fill me
With the soft moan of your love
When your delight has failed
To call or move your flock from wrong

Make children songs or any song to fill
Your reed with breath of life
But at your will
Lay down the flute and take repose
While music infinite




Is silence in our heart
And laid on it you reed is mute

Overall Meaning

The song "Pastorale" by Bukas Palad is rich in spiritual and allegorical meaning. The lyrics speak of a reed that is glad to be the shepherd's instrument, waiting to be breathed upon by the shepherd's joy. This can be interpreted as the singer's surrender and submission to God's will, allowing Himself to be used as an instrument of His love and mercy.


The shepherd's joy is said to bring forth either bright songs or the soft moan of love, both of which symbolize the different dispositions of the human heart in praise and worship. The reed, as the human soul, is either filled with joy or sadness, depending on the state of the flock. The shepherd can call forth the desirable state of the flock, motivating them to move away from wrongdoings and towards righteousness.


The last stanza of the song speaks of the importance of rest and silence, emphasizing that music is not just about creating sound, but also about appreciating its infinite essence that transcends time and space. Thus, the reed is mute when it is not played, but its presence is enough to fill the heart with an infinite feeling of music.


Line by Line Meaning

I am your reed, sweet shepherd, glad to be
I am here to serve you, dear shepherd, and I am happy to do so.


Now if you will, breathe out your joy in me
Please share your happiness with me and I will rejoice with you.


And make bright songs or fill me
Use me to create joyful and uplifting music, or simply fill me with your melodies.


With the soft moan of your love
Let me express the tender emotions of your heart through gentle and heartfelt playing.


When your delight has failed
In those moments when you feel uninspired or discouraged,


To call or move your flock from wrong
And you struggle to guide your followers towards what is right,


Make children songs or any song to fill
Use me to create fun and playful melodies that will engage and delight your listeners,


Your reed with breath of life
Breathing life into your music through my playing,


But at your will
But ultimately, it is up to you to decide when to use me and when to set me aside.


Lay down the flute and take repose
Take a break from music-making and allow yourself to rest.


While music infinite
Even in moments of silence,


Is silence in our heart
We can feel the presence of music deep within us.


And laid on it your reed is mute
At those times, I am silent and still, resting until you call upon me once again.




Contributed by Aiden S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@Kristianne12111992

Listening to these songs calms my troubled soul.

@yankeedoo2703

I love this! I remember when i was in the Parish choir...

@earlbaldomero

Amen...

@earlbaldomero

God bless you!😘😘💋💋😘😘

@sriramguthula

This song is good

@D3sdinova

There is another song called "Pastorale"
A very powerful yet fable like song about a girl falling in love with the sun.

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