Originally, Gregorian was conceived as a more pop-oriented group in the vein of Enigma. Under this concept, they recorded the 1991 album Sadisfaction, with lead vocals provided by The Sisters of Oz: Susana Espelleta (Peterson's wife at the time) and Birgit Freud. However, this was the only album in that style.
In 1998, Peterson and his team Jan-Eric Kohrs, Michael Soltau and Carsten Heusmann re-invented the project to perform popular songs in the Gregorian style. The criteria for song selection were strict; in order to be considered, a song needed to be translatable into the 7-tone scale. For each album, songs were carefully chosen in addition to original songs written by Jan-Eric Kohrs, Amelia Brightman and Carsten Heussman. Twelve vocalists - previously acclaimed session and choir singers - were then hired to record the tracks.
Each Gregorian album is initially digitally tracked at Nemo Studios, Peterson's Hamburg studio. The vocalists then record their parts in a church atmosphere with dimmed lights and candles, in order to escape what Peterson referred to in a 2001 interview as the "cold and technical" studio atmosphere.
The concept proved to be successful, and the group proceeded to record several more Masters of Chant albums in the same style. Their 2004 album, The Dark Side, was a slight departure from the others, featuring a darker repertoire consistent with the title.
In 2005, The Masterpieces, a compilation album with a live DVD, was released. A fifth Masters of Chant album was released on 31 March 2006. In 2006, a festive album was also released, titled Christmas Chants. A sixth Masters of Chant album was released on 28 September 2007. In 2009 a seventh Masters of Chant album followed.
Gregorian in 2009
On 8 September 2010 the next album, titled The Dark Side of Chant, was announced to be published on 15 October 2010.
The members of the Gregorian choir group are Richard Naxton (Naxos), Johnny Clucas (Johnny), Chris Tickner (Chris T.), Richard Collier (Rich), Gerry O'Beirne (Gerry), Lawrence White (Lorro) and Rob Fardell (Rob F.).
Others who contribute to the vocals or sound of Gregorian are Sarah Brightman (under the pseudonyms Hepsibah or Sarah Hellmann), Amelia Brightman (Sarah Brightman's younger sister), Frank Peterson, and staff of Nemo Studio among others.
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
Gregorian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a-
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone
Read between the lines
What's fucked up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a-
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk alone
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone...
The lyrics of Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Gregorian are ripe with themes of loneliness, isolation, and vulnerability. The song follows the perspective of a person who feels like a stranger living in a strange land. Starting off with "I walk a lonely road," the singer delves into the despair of being the only one he knows living his life the way he does. He's confused about where he stands in life and doesn't know where he's headed. Yet, the song's underlying tone suggests that he's at peace with this turmoil because for him, this anonymous life resonates with his soul.
The line "My shadows the only one that walks beside me," points to the singer's loneliness and how it has been the only constant in his life. He comes across as someone whose mind is split in two, always warring between what he wants, and what he should do. The phrase "On the border line of the edge and where I walk alone," speaks to his inner turmoil of what decision he should choose. Ultimately, the song's most poignant moment comes when he says "Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me, 'til then I walk alone." This line brilliantly summarizes the song's theme and brings the singer's arc to a bittersweet close.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk a lonely road
I am walking on a path that is devoid of companionship
The only one that I have ever known
This is the only path that I have ever walked
Don't know where it goes
I am not certain what direction this path will take me
But it's home to me and I walk alone
Despite the uncertainty, I consider this path to be my home and I am comfortable with walking it alone
I walk this empty street
I am walking on a street that is empty and devoid of people
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
This street represents a place where people's hopes and aspirations have been dashed
Where the city sleeps
The city is silent and inactive at this moment
and I'm the only one and I walk alone
I am the only person here and I am walking alone in this street
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
I am walking alone but my shadow is following me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
My heart is devoid of emotions or feelings
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
Sometimes I desire companionship and hope that someone will come to me
'Til then I walk alone
Until I find someone to accompany me, I will continue to walk alone
I'm walking down the line
I am walking on a narrow path or making a tough decision
That divides me somewhere in my mind
This path is dividing me internally in some way
On the border line
It is difficult to determine whether I am in one specific area or another
Of the edge and where I walk alone
I am standing on the edge of a path and I am walking alone
Read between the lines
Pay close attention to the details to understand the deeper meaning
What's fucked up and everything's alright
Despite things being messed up, everything appears to be okay on the surface
Check my vital signs
Ensure that I am still alive and okay
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone
I am confirming that I am alive and that I am continuing to walk alone
I walk this empty street
I am walking on a street devoid of people or activity
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
This street represents a place where people's dreams have been shattered
Where the city sleeps
The city is inactive and silent
And I'm the only one and I walk alone
There is no one else here and I am walking alone
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shadow is my only companion on this walk
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
I am devoid of any depth of feeling or emotion
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
I do crave companionship and hope that someone will come to me
'Til then I walk alone
Until someone comes to me, my path will remain a solitary one
Contributed by Riley R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Andyb2379
I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's only me, and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the boulevard of broken dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one, and I walk alone
I walk alone, I walk alone
I walk alone and I walk a
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
Till then I walk alone
Ah ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah ah
I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line of the edge
And where I walk alone
Read between the lines
What's fucked up and every thing's all right
Check my vital signs to know I'm still alive
And I walk alone
I walk alone, I walk alone
I walk alone and I walk a
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
Till then I walk alone
Ah ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah ah
I walk alone, I walk a
I walk this empty street
On the boulevard of broken dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one, and I walk alone
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
Till then I walk alone
@christianlorre
I don't know what made anybody decide to cover this song this way, but I love it! It's perfectly haunting.
@PILOSOPAUL
indeed
@felinelamp2551
For it is the right path
@shoukatalisoomro7056
Same feelings dost 🌺🌹🥀
@AlastairGames
glad you enjoyed it!
@supersilva2
Medieval times fascinate me to no end. This music just makes it more epic. I love it!
@philipmancera2505
Knights, Dragons, horses, and princesses Galore.
@carlosarriaga2993
I've listened this when i was 10 years and it still one of the best cover/version of all time
@gatadefogo
Eu amo essa música e ficou linda na voz deles parabéns muito talentosos e sublimes
@Durchii
Found this by accident on Spotify and I am very glad I did. Absolutely tremendous.