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.
There's a Meeting Here Tonight
Cantus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well there's a meeting here tonight
There's a meeting here tonight
I can tell by your friendly face
There's a meeting here tonight
Well I went down in the valley one day
What do you reckon old Satan did say?
He said, Turn back, young man
You're too young to pray.
Satan got mad and I am glad
Lost a soul he thought he had
Satan is a liar and a conjuror too
You better watch out brother he'll conjure you
Well there's a meeting here tonight
There's a meeting here tonight
I can tell by your friendly face
There's a meeting here tonight"
The lyrics of Cantus's song "There's a Meeting Here Tonight" seem to be discussing a religious meeting, possibly a church gathering or prayer service. The repetition of the phrase "There's a meeting here tonight" seems to emphasize the importance of the event and the anticipation of the singer. The lines "I can tell by your friendly face" suggest that the singer is recognizing familiar faces in the crowd, likely fellow worshippers.
However, the lyrics take a darker turn with the introduction of Satan, who the singer encounters in the valley. Satan warns the singer that he is too young to pray, but the singer defies him and continues on his path. The final verses warn of Satan's deceitfulness and the danger he poses to those who do not stay vigilant.
Overall, the lyrics seem to be a warning against temptation and the importance of faith in overcoming it. The mention of Satan suggests that this is a religious message, likely geared towards Christianity.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a meeting here tonight!
Announcing that there is a meeting taking place tonight.
Well there's a meeting here tonight
Reiterating that there is indeed a meeting taking place tonight.
I can tell by your friendly face
The singer observes that the person they are talking to is exhibiting a positive demeanor, indicating that they are likely attending the meeting as well.
Well I went down in the valley one day
The artist recounts a personal story of their encounter with Satan in a valley.
met old Satan on my way
The artist unexpectedly encountered Satan during their journey.
What do you reckon old Satan did say?
Satan spoke to the singer, prompting them to wonder what he had to say.
He said, Turn back, young man / You're too young to pray.
Satan tried to discourage the singer from their religious pursuits, claiming they were too young to understand.
Satan got mad and I am glad
The artist observes that Satan became angry when his attempts to dissuade the artist failed.
Lost a soul he thought he had
Satan was unsuccessful in convincing the artist to turn away from their faith, and thus lost the opportunity to claim their soul.
Satan is a liar and a conjuror too
The artist characterizes Satan as both a deceiver and a practitioner of magic.
You better watch out brother he'll conjure you
The singer warns the listener to be wary of Satan's abilities to deceive and manipulate.
Well there's a meeting here tonight
Reiterating once again that there is a meeting taking place tonight.
There's a meeting here tonight
Again emphasizing the fact that there is a meeting happening tonight.
I can tell by your friendly face
Repeating the observation from earlier that the listener's demeanor suggests they will also be attending the meeting.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALEX HASSILEV, BOB GIBSON, GLENN YARBROUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ava Hoover
Directly from Joe and Eddie's recording, beautifully rendered.
bakilacat1
What a surprise to hear this!! Yesterday visited a friend with dementia at a nursing home and she Came ALIVE when I started singing this and Children Go…. We used to sing to Joe and Eddie lots! She joined it and it was a blast!
SunshineSharon
You all are SO good! I'm blessed.
granitestater1029
Like that they stayed with fabulous Joe & Eddie's arrangement. Immitation. Is the greatest form of flattery. Glad someone is keeping this alive.
Kuvasz Vizsla
Amen. I love the Joe and Eddie version, but these guys are great also. Nice to watch them back-to-back.
William DuBois
Amen to that. Recently digitized my old Joe and Eddie albums. Saw them live at Melodyland Theater in Anaheim in 1964. And of course, I absolutely love Cantus.
slynanne
One of the standout songs on a really wonderful program--what a great choice of song for the occasion!
jondoyle44
Cantus and Chanticleer in the same venue at the same time... now that's a 💎Gig...
Rose Topanga
Used to the Joe and Eddie version. Glad this is still around. Beautiful!
Kuvasz Vizsla
I usually listen to the Joe and Eddie version which is fabulous and then listen to this which also gives me a thrill. The arrangement is basically the same but acapella or course and set for 8 voices and they do a terrific job.