The first is San Fran… Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists that go by Chanticleer.
The first is San Francisco-based ensemble known around the world as “an orchestra of voices” for the seamless blend of its twelve male voices ranging from countertenor to bass and its original interpretations of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz, and from gospel to venturesome new music. Called “the world's reigning male chorus,” by The New Yorker, and named 2008 Ensemble of the Year by Musical America, Chanticleer will perform more than 100 concerts in 2013-14, the Grammy Award-winning ensemble’s 36th Season. Praised by The San Francisco Chronicle for their “tonal luxuriance and crisply etched clarity,” Chanticleer will tour to 21 of the United States and 12 foreign countries this season, including appearances at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, New York's St. Ignatius Loyola, Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, Vienna's Musikverein, and Prague's Rudolfinum In 2009, Chanticleer made debut appearances in Ireland and the People's Republic of China and will return to the latter in June for Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
The second is Salt Lake City indie folk artist Andrew Shaw, who also heads a band, The Adonis.
Walking in the Air
Chanticleer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
we’re floating in the moonlit sky;
the people far below are sleeping as we fly.
I’m holding very tight,
I’m riding in the midnight blue,
I’m finding I can fly so high above with you.
the rivers and the hills,
the forest and the streams...
Children gaze open-mouthed,
taken by surprise;
nobody down below believes their eyes!
We’re surfing in the air,
we’re swimming in the frozen sky,
we’re drifting over icy mountains floating by.
Suddenly swooping low
on an ocean deep,
rousing up a mighty monster from its sleep...
We’re walking in the air,
we’re dancing in the midnight sky,
and everyone who sees us greets us as we fly.
The lyrics of Chanticleer's song "Walking in the Air" describe a breathtaking and magical experience of flying. The singer and their companion are soaring through the moonlit sky, with the people on the ground fast asleep. The feeling of floating and weightlessness fills them as they unrelentingly hold on and journey further into the night. The midnight blue symbolism suggests a sense of mystery and the unknown, as they venture into the vast expanse above with their companion.
As they continue their aerial voyage, they witness the passing of various landscapes and scenery. The villages that pass by seem dreamlike, and the rivers, hills, forests, and streams lay out before them like a fantastical painting. The imagery here evokes a sense of wonder and awe, as the beauty of the natural world unfolds beneath them. However, the lyrics note that the people below, oblivious in their sleep, would not believe the miraculous sight if they were to see it.
The second part of the song shifts to a more adventurous tone. The singer describes the experience of surfing and swimming through the air, as if the sky itself has transformed into a frozen ocean. The mention of drifting over icy mountains indicates both the sublime and perilous nature of their flight. Suddenly, they encounter an oceanic depth and manage to wake a mighty monster from its slumber. This sudden change in the lyrics adds an element of excitement and danger to their journey, a reminder that even in the air, unexpected challenges may arise.
The song concludes with a repetition of the initial verses, emphasizing the enchantment of being airborne. The singers express the joy of walking and dancing in the midnight sky. They note that everyone who witnesses their flight greets them with admiration and wonder. This finale suggests that the experience of flight, even if imagined or fantastical, captivates the imagination of those who observe it, capturing a sense of freedom, magic, and reverence for the beauty of the world from a different perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
We're walking in the air,
We are experiencing the feeling of weightlessly moving through the sky.
we're floating in the moonlit sky;
We are gracefully suspended and moving through the sky illuminated by the moon.
the people far below are sleeping as we fly.
The individuals on the ground are unaware of our presence as they peacefully sleep while we soar above.
I'm holding very tight,
I am holding onto you tightly to feel secure and connected as we embark on this journey.
I'm riding in the midnight blue,
I am traveling through the sky, surrounded by the deep blue hues of the night.
I'm finding I can fly so high above with you.
I am discovering that being with you allows me to reach incredible heights and levels of freedom in the sky.
Far across the world the villages go by like dreams,
As we soar across different parts of the world, the villages seem like fleeting illusions or figments of the imagination.
the rivers and the hills,
We observe the natural features of rivers and hills from our aerial perspective.
the forest and the streams...
We take in the beauty of the forests and the flowing streams beneath us during our flight.
Children gaze open-mouthed,
The children on the ground look up in awe and astonishment, their mouths agape in wonder.
taken by surprise;
The children are completely caught off guard by witnessing our amazing airborne spectacle.
nobody down below believes their eyes!
The people watching from the ground are so amazed that they cannot believe what their eyes are showing them.
We're surfing in the air,
We are skillfully and effortlessly gliding through the sky, just like someone would surf on ocean waves.
we're swimming in the frozen sky,
We are gracefully moving through the sky as if we were swimming in a frozen body of water.
we're drifting over icy mountains floating by.
We are gently floating above and passing over majestic icy mountains that appear to be floating in the landscape.
Suddenly swooping low
Abruptly descending in a swift and sweeping motion
on an ocean deep,
Descending towards the vast and seemingly endless depths of an ocean.
rousing up a mighty monster from its sleep...
Stirring and awakening a powerful and formidable creature from its slumber in the depths of the ocean.
We're walking in the air,
We continue to move gracefully and weightlessly through the sky.
we're dancing in the midnight sky,
We are joyfully and gracefully swirling and twirling through the sky, adorned by the midnight hues.
and everyone who sees us greets us as we fly.
All those who witness our breathtaking flight extend their warm greetings and salutations as we soar above.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Howard Blake, Kenneth Smith, Paul Rhodes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Delizonas
We're walking in the air
We're floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
I'm holding very tight
I'm riding in the midnight blue
I'm finding I can fly so high above with you
Far across the world
The villages go by like dreams
The rivers and the hills
The forests and the streams
Children gaze open mouth
Taken by surprise
Nobody down below believes their eyes
We're surfing in the air
We're swimming in the frozen sky
We're drifting over icy mountains floating by
Suddenly swooping low on an ocean deep
Rousing up a mighty monster from his sleep
We're walking in the air
We're dancing in the midnight sky
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly
@barbiec4312
Just saw them sing this tonight and was gobsmacked so I came here to hear it again. Even better in person.
@Linbranda
I was once in a remote, cold northern forest at midnight, listening to the snow fall and the soft wind in the snowy pine trees. This performance brings me back to the magic of that night. I've watched this, oh, maybe 30 times...? whenever I want a blast of happiness. Or maybe it's schadenfreude. This song has a special place in my heart and this performance is angelic, especially Logan's - how can you hit such pure, clean high notes?! God bless all of you guys for your haunting voices. You are such a gift to the world.
@M0odyBlue
Isn’t schadenfreude taking pleasure in misfortunes of others? Maybe nostalgia if the song takes you to a special time or place I. Your past? It’s a beautiful, haunting song.
@Linbranda
@@M0odyBlueyou are correct, I used the wrong word. “Bittersweet “ is better.
@M0odyBlue
@@Linbranda”Bittersweet” is a great word!
@suzannadannaTARDIS
When my older son was an infant, my sister in law gave us a video of the Snowman for his first Christmas. Walking on the Air instantly captivated my husband, my son, and me. That video was watched year round for many, many years - mainly because my son loved the song and the animations.
To find that Chanticleer has recorded an equally beautiful and haunting performance of this song makes me very happy. Off to purchase whatever album has this on it - and a DVD copy of The Snowman.
@marciawolhandler5718
This transports to another place. Remarkable!
@juliellerousseas1690
These are the most open R's... if you know you know...this song can't happen unless you know this.. goddamn girl chi cleer... brava
@shortstuph123
This was my mother’s favorite song. It’s amazing to see it sung by my favorite choral group of all time. I’m not crying, you’re crying.
@JanneHarp-my9gh
Just beautiful ... love these guys! They're my favorite singers.