1. A German composer
2. A … Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists with this name:
1. A German composer
2. A British pop singer
1. Engelbert Humperdinck (German pronunciation: [ˈɛŋl̩bɛʁt ˈhʊmpɐdɪŋk]) (1 September 1854 – 27 September 1921) was a German composer, best known for his opera, Hänsel und Gretel. Humperdinck was born at Siegburg in the Rhine Province; at the age of 67 he died in Neustrelitz, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
2. Engelbert Humperdinck (born Arnold George Dorsey; 2 May 1936) is a British pop singer, best known for his hits including "Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)" and "After the Lovin'" as well as "The Last Waltz" ("The Last Waltz with You").
Humperdinck represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.
Jerusalem
Engelbert Humperdinck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walk upon England′s mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England′s green and pleasant land
"Jerusalem" is a song written and composed by William Blake, a British poet and artist, in 1804. The poem appeared in his poem collection "Milton: A Poem" and later set to music by Sir Charles Parry in 1916. Engelbert Humperdinck's version of the song, released in 1974, gained immense popularity and became a symbol of English national identity.
The lyrics are a mix of religious and patriotic references that combine to form a call to action. The first stanza alludes to the legend of Jesus visiting England as a boy and the possibility of the country being blessed with his presence. The second stanza references the belief that God's glory can be seen in nature, but that it is obscured by the industrialization of England. This industrialization is symbolized by the "dark satanic mills" mentioned in the lyrics.
The final stanza is the most famous and calls for an epic battle to rebuild Jerusalem in England. The bow, arrows, spear, and chariot of fire mentioned are all biblical references. The lines, "I will not cease from mental fight / Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand" suggest that the fight will be a spiritual one, rather than a physical one.
Line by Line Meaning
And did those feet in ancient time
Did the feet of Jesus Christ himself visit England in the olden days?
Walk upon England′s mountains green?
Did he walk on the lush green mountains of England?
And was the holy Lamb of God
Was Jesus himself present and visible?
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
Was he seen on the beautiful and comfortable pastures of England?
And did the Countenance Divine
Did the countenance of the divine, godly figure manifest in some form?
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
Did it appear and shine on the gloomy, cloudy hills of England?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Did the city of Jerusalem get built here in England?
Among these dark satanic mills?
In the presence of the evil and oppressive mechanical mills of England?
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Fetch me my flaming, golden bow.
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me the arrows that symbolize my passion and desires.
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold
Bring me my spear and unmask the barricading clouds.
Bring me my chariot of fire!
Bring me my shining chariot of fire.
I will not cease from mental fight
I will not stop the intellectual battle,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Nor will I let go of my sword,
Till we have built Jerusalem
Until we have constructed a symbolic 'Jerusalem',
In England′s green and pleasant land
In this luscious and beautiful land called England.
Writer(s): Nick Laird-clowes, Hubert Parry, Christina Robert
Contributed by Anna V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
zjngd1
Such a handsome man! He still sure melts my heart! His voice goes on forever! Magic!
Steven Miller
He is one of the true greats and a great human. I just plain love his music. I am glad to see he is doing so well.
Patricia Robertson
80 is the new 60 when it comes to Englebert. Forever young and talented! He’s still got it!
Lifeminute
Agreed!
Silli Lilli
Still as gorgeous as ever! Timeless talent.
Bleu Skye
One of my favorite shows was Engelbert. What a voice and oh so gorgeous.
jorge acosta
Your music has been part of us since the very beginning, bringing joy and tears to our lives. Thank you for such a profound impact.
Dora Robertson
Beautiful voice but his delivery is sensational! At 82!
Mary Cardellh
His voice is so beautiful. And the music that is played with his singing. Is wonderful. I love listening to him more than ever.
Joann Foxx
Wonderful interview with our one and only Engelbert. Handsome as ever and a voice like no other! May God continue to keep Blessing him and watching over him. He is so loved around the world. Thank you for posting this wonderful interview.