Garmarna is a Swedish folk-rock band.

Formed in 1990 in Sundsvall, S… Read Full Bio ↴Garmarna is a Swedish folk-rock band.

Formed in 1990 in Sundsvall, Sweden, as a trio featuring Gotte Ringqvist, Stefan Brisland-Ferner, and Rickard Westman, Garmarna was inspired by Olov Johansson's musical score for a production of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Their debut album, Vittrad ("Withered"), released in April 1994, was nominated for a Swedish Grammy.

The original trio was soon augmented by percussionist Jens Höglin and singer Emma Härdelin. In 1996 the band released their second album, Guds Spelemän ("The fiddlers of God") which received the Swedish Grammy award as Album of the Year.

Since then, Garmarna has published three more albums: Vedergällningen ("Vengeance") in 1999, Hildegard von Bingen in 2001 and in 2003, Garmarna, a re-release of the 1993 EP with 6 bonus tracks.

Kyrie
Garmarna Lyrics

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Kyrie eleison
Christe eleison
Kyrie eleison
Kyrie eleison

Overall Meaning

The lyrics "Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison" are taken from a Greek Orthodox hymn and translate to "Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy". Garmarna's rendition of the hymn is hauntingly beautiful, with the lead vocalist using a mixture of traditional and non-traditional singing techniques. The melody is simple and repetitive, adding to the hypnotic effect of the song.

The use of the phrase "Kyrie eleison" in the song can be interpreted in several ways. It could be seen as a plea for mercy from a higher power, a lament for the struggles of life, or even a call for peace in a world torn apart by conflict. The ambiguity of the lyrics allows the listener to interpret the song in their own way, adding to its emotional impact.

Line by Line Meaning

Kyrie eleison
Lord, have mercy

Christe eleison
Christ, have mercy

Kyrie eleison
Lord, have mercy

Contributed by Caden A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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TRACKS