Pastoral
Cathedral Choir And Orchestra Lyrics
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Has but a little way to run,
And yet his steeds, with all his skill,
Scarce lug the chariot down the hill.
The shadows now so long do grow,
That brambles like tall cedars show
Molehills seem mountains, and the ant
A very little, little flock
Shades thrice the ground that it would stock
Whilst the small stripling following them
Appears a mighty Polypheme.
And now on benches all are sat,
In the cool air to sit and chat,
Till Phoebus, dipping in the West,
Shall lead the world the way to rest.
The lyrics of Cathedral Choir And Orchestra's song "Pastoral" depict the scene of a peaceful and serene evening as the day comes to an end. The first verse begins by describing the setting sun, suggesting that it is nearing the horizon and its rays are getting weaker. The metaphor of the sun's chariot being dragged down the hill by its horses implies that the day is drawing to a close.
As the shadows grow longer in the second verse, the imagery becomes more exaggerated. The brambles are compared to tall cedars, emphasizing their towering presence. Even the smallest molehills appear enormous, and an ant is depicted as a monstrous elephant. This imagery creates a sense of distortion and illusions as the day fades away.
The final verse captures the moment of tranquility as people gather and sit on benches to enjoy the cool evening air. They engage in conversation and idle chatter while waiting for the sun, personified as Phoebus, to dip below the horizon and lead the world into peaceful rest.
Overall, the lyrics of "Pastoral" paint a picture of a serene evening, with nature taking on exaggerated proportions as dusk settles in. The song reflects on the beauty and tranquility of the natural world, inviting listeners to appreciate the peacefulness and calmness of the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
The day's grown old the fainting sun
As the day comes to an end, the weary sun appears to be losing its strength.
Has but a little way to run
The sun has only a short distance left to traverse in the sky before it sets.
And yet his steeds, with all his skill
Even with all the sun's expertise, his horses struggle to pull the chariot.
Scarce lug the chariot down the hill
The horses can barely drag the chariot down the slope.
The shadows now so long do grow
The shadows have become very long as the day progresses.
That brambles like tall cedars show
The shadows have elongated to the point where even small bushes appear as tall as cedar trees.
Molehills seem mountains, and the ant
Small molehills appear as towering mountains, and even the tiny ant appears gigantic.
Appears a monstrous elephant
The ant seems as colossal as a monstrous elephant.
A very little, little flock
A small flock of sheep, though tiny in number.
Shades thrice the ground that it would stock
The shadows cast by the flock extend three times the area they actually occupy.
Whilst the small stripling following them
Meanwhile, a young shepherd boy trails behind the flock.
Appears a mighty Polypheme
Surprisingly, the young boy appears as powerful as the mythological giant Polyphemus.
And now on benches all are sat
Everyone is now seated on benches.
In the cool air to sit and chat
They enjoy the pleasant evening breeze while engaging in conversation.
Till Phoebus, dipping in the West
They will continue their leisurely talk until the sun, personified as Phoebus, starts descending in the western sky.
Shall lead the world the way to rest
The setting sun will guide the world into a peaceful state of rest and sleep.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Benjamin Britten
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind