1. The Norwegian choral ensemble Cantus was formed in 1986 by a group of young women who wanted to take control of their own performances. The group, consisting of 30 amateur singers, is based in Tronheim and led by Tove Ramlo-Ystad, who joined as a singer and has become the group's director. Cantus typically performs arrangement of classical and contempary works, and has crossed over into jazz, folk, and pop music.
The group credits its participation in choral competitions with sharpening its focus and raising the quality of its performances.
Cantus has become an international sensation because of its inclusion on the soundtracks of both Disney films Frozen I and II, featuring the tracks Vuelie and Reindeer Circle, written by Frode Fjellheim and Christophe Beck.
2. Originally founded at St. Olaf College, Cantus is now a nine person male vocal ensemble based in Minneapolis. They sing a wide variety of vocal music, and have performed in some innovative theater pieces as well.
3. Cantus from Lithuania, making some mixture of Christian and Lithuanian folk music.
Psalm
Cantus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ghosts will beckon
Land will listen
And I
Under meadow
Golden furrow
Bones of heroes
Among maples
Sun-struck steeples
Hidden circles
Ring out our days
Across oceans
Ghosts will beckon
In my memory
Home eludes me
Gone the beauty
Of who I've been
Gone the duty,
Blood of family
Sky above me
A dome of pain
You who come here
Fleeing, frightened
Arrive, defeated
You will be safe
You who found this
Land uneasy
Find who you are
In this new place
Hold the newness
Lost included
Blossoms millions
Meadows grain
And I will sing
The lyrics of Cantus's song "Psalm" speak to the theme of displacement and finding a sense of belonging. The opening lines, "Across oceans, ghosts will beckon, land will listen, and I" depict a longing for connection and a search for home. The mention of ghosts suggests the presence of past experiences and memories that continue to haunt the singer, while the land is portrayed as an attentive listener, potentially offering solace and understanding.
The following lines, "Under meadow, golden furrow, bones of heroes, the lonely lay" evoke a sense of history and solitude. The image of the golden furrow implies fertility and growth, while the mention of the bones of heroes suggests a connection to a lineage or a shared legacy. However, there is also a sense of loneliness that permeates this imagery, emphasizing the singer's sense of isolation.
The middle section of the song shifts to a more communal perspective, with the lyrics referring to maples, sun-struck steeples, and hidden circles, symbolizing a collective experience and the passing of time. The repetition of "across oceans, ghosts will beckon" reinforces the idea that the longing for connection and a sense of home is universal and transcends physical boundaries.
The latter part of the lyrics delve into the singer's personal struggles, as they express the loss of beauty and identity, the absence of familial duty and the weight of pain symbolized by the sky. Despite these hardships, the singer extends a reassuring message to others who may feel defeated, frightened, or uneasy in their own pursuit of belonging. They offer solace, stating that those who come to this new land will find safety and have the opportunity to discover their true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
Across oceans
No matter how far apart we are
Ghosts will beckon
The memories of past experiences will call out to us
Land will listen
The land holds the secrets and stories of those who have walked upon it
And I
And I, with my own experiences
Under meadow
Beneath the peaceful surface
Golden furrow
The rich and fruitful soil
Bones of heroes
The remnants of those who have fought bravely
The lonely lay
They rest in solitude
Among maples
Amongst trees that offer shade and shelter
Sun-struck steeples
Towers touched by the warm embrace of the sun
Hidden circles
Sacred places unseen by many
Ring out our days
Mark the passing of time for all of us
In my memory
Within the depths of my recollections
Home eludes me
I am unable to find my true sense of belonging
Gone the beauty
The once remarkable aspects have disappeared
Of who I've been
Of the person I used to be
Gone the duty
The responsibilities and obligations I once had
Blood of family
The ties and connections of my kin
Sky above me
The endless expanse that hangs over me
A dome of pain
A constant reminder of suffering
You who come here
Those who seek refuge in this place
Fleeing, frightened
Escaping from their fears and anxieties
Arrive, defeated
Arriving with a sense of defeat
You will be safe
You will find protection and security here
You who found this
Those who have discovered this new land
Land uneasy
A land that is unfamiliar and unsettling
Find who you are
Discover your true identity
In this new place
In this fresh and unexplored territory
Hold the newness
Embrace the novelty and unfamiliarity
Lost included
Those who have lost their way are welcomed too
Blossoms millions
Countless opportunities and potential
Meadows grain
Endless fields of abundance
And I will sing
And I will express my emotions through music
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: NATHANIEL BELLOWS, SARAH KIRKLAND SNIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
feuilletoniste
The Bible (both Old and New Testaments) refers to God as both a mother figure and a father figure, with attributes that have been traditionally been given both masculine and feminine valence.
"...thus says the LORD, "Behold, I extend peace to her [Jerusalem] like a river, And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; And you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you will be comforted in Jerusalem." " - Isaiah 66:7-13
(Quoting Jesus) “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” - Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34
Note also that both men and women were created in the image of God, meaning that God must have both masculine and feminine attributes.
“Humankind was created as God’s reflection: in the divine image God created them; female and male, God made them.” - Genesis 1:27
But surely God is infinitely greater than our little gender constructs! Much of what we understand of him/her we do through metaphor. The image of God as a father was one that made sense in a time when women had no power or standing in the community. But thankfully we have started to move beyond those days, and we can have communities and practices of faith that are more inclusive and welcoming to all people, regardless of sex or gender. By changing the pronouns in this psalm, Bobby McFerrin wasn't doing anything sacrilegious or unbiblical - certainly not blasphemous! He was, rather, reminding us of the infinity of God, and the abundance of his/her/their love.
Sarah Herwick
For all of you complaining about a God being referred to as "She:" If you look it says dedicated to my mother, this is because Bobby McFerrin wrote it for his mother, an accomplished vocalist. He said that when he first thought of it he saw his wife interacting with his child, and thought, surely we can see God's love through the love of a mother to a child. There's a beauty in that sentiment, and it doesn't need to be marred by silly banter. God's love is shown through love from our mothers and daughters, AND our fathers and sons -- and many many more connections. This is just one way Bobby McFerrin chose to honor his mother, and praise God for having blessed him with her.
I.M. Shirley Rongh
God can be called mother and woman, guess who invented both? If that's what you seek, ask your heavenly mother. Why not? What are you gonna lose by trying? Not much really.
3sisters in the spirit
Asante ?Thanx Sara . This is #beUtiful and on point!!! But isnt God the personification of us All..both masculine and feminine
Ed Kramer
I don't think God has chromosomes - X or Y.
John Wilmerding
Besides, if G-d is male, how big is _________?
ThorAbian
Tonight as I drove home, I heard this song on the radio...I'd not heard it for 16 years, since a friend played it at my Mother's funeral. Such a beautiful song, magnificent for its simplicity. I am grateful to God, that S/He made Bobby McFerrin, and that this piece of music exists: just as it did 16 years ago, it comforts my soul.
moonkraab
Played at my mother's funeral also❤
Bonnie Haghirian
"We created them in our image, male and female." Even in Genesis we find the dual gender of God. This is a beautiful arrangement of Psalm 23. Thank you for sharing.
MrDontAsk
Man, this is an awesome performance of this song. The vowels, the harmony, the fact that theres no visible conductor or conducting, it's truly amazing.
Robert Hicker
So beautiful. Like Anglican chant with a twist of cool.