(1) Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, known generally as Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847) was a German composer, pianist, organist, and conductor of the early Romantic period.
Mendelssohn was born on 3rd February 1809 in Hamburg, Germany into a notable Jewish family (his grandfather was the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn). He was a child prodigy, though his family were careful not to allow this to distort his upbringing, and only approved of his following a musical career when it was clear that he was serious about music.
Early success in Germany was followed by travel throughout Europe; Mendelssohn was particularly well received in Britain as a composer, conductor and soloist, and his ten visits there (during which many of his major works were premiered) form an important part of his adult career. His essentially conservative musical tastes however set him apart from many of his more adventurous musical contemporaries such as Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, and Hector Berlioz. The Conservatory he founded at Leipzig became a bastion of this anti-radical outlook.
Mendelssohn’s work includes symphonies, concertos, oratorios, piano works, and chamber music. He also had an important role in the revival of interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. After a long period of relative denigration due to changing musical tastes and antisemitism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, his creative originality has again been recognised, and re-evaluated. He is now among the most popular composers of the Romantic era. He died on 4th November 1847 in Leipzig.
(2) The other Felix Mendelssohn was a popular British crooner of the 1930s and 1940s. He became fascinated with Hawaiian music and became best known performing as Felix Mendelssohn & His Hawaiian Serenaders. See the Wikipedia article about this band and their Last.fm artist profile.
Pagan Love Song
Felix Mendelssohn Lyrics
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And the starlit waters linger in our eyes
Native hills are calling, to them we belong
And we'll cheer each other with the Pagan love song
Come with me where moonbeams light Tahitian skies
And the starlit waters linger in our eyes
Native hills are calling, to them we belong
The lyrics of "Pagan Love Song" by Felix Mendelssohn & His Hawaiian Serenaders speak of an idyllic escape to the shores of Tahiti, where moonbeams light up the night sky and the starry waters reflect the beauty of the land. The singer invites their loved one to join them on this journey, to heed the call of the native hills and revel in the joy of their relationship. The use of the phrase "Pagan love song" suggests a primal, almost mystical quality to their love, as if it transcends the boundaries of conventional society and embraces the raw essence of human emotion.
The imagery in the lyrics paints a picture of a paradise-like setting, but it's the message of connection through cultural and spiritual roots that stands out the most. The reference to the "Native hills" invokes a sense of ancestry and tradition, suggesting that love can be a force that strengthens one's ties to their community and history. It's a romantic notion that hints at a deeper understanding of what love can truly mean.
Line by Line Meaning
Come with me where moonbeams light Tahitian skies
Join me in a place where moonlight illuminates the skies of Tahiti
And the starlit waters linger in our eyes
Let us take in the beauty of the starry waters that surround us
Native hills are calling, to them we belong
The hills of our homeland summon us because we belong there
And we'll cheer each other with the Pagan love song
Together, we will uplift each other's spirits with the captivating Pagan love song
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ARTHUR FREED, HARRY WARREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind