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.
One Of Us
Gregorian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with him in all his glory
What would you ask if you
Had just one question?
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
If God had a face what would it look like?
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that
You would have to believe
In things like heaven and in
Jesus and the saints and all the prophets
Trying to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody is calling on the phone
'cept for the Pope maybe in Rome
Just trying to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone
Back up to heaven all alone
Just trying to make his way home
Nobody is calling on the phone
'cept for the Pope maybe in Rome
The song "One of Us" by Gregorian is a thought-provoking exploration of the nature of God and our relationship to Him. The song poses several intriguing questions that challenge our assumptions about what it means to believe in God. The first verse asks what God's name would be, and whether we would be able to address Him face to face if we were confronted with His glory. This sets up the central theme of the song, which is the idea that God is not some distant, unknowable deity, but rather someone who is intimately involved in our lives.
The second verse takes this idea a step further by asking what God's face would look like, and whether we would be prepared to believe in heaven, Jesus, the saints, and the prophets if we were to see Him. This raises the question of faith and what it means to truly believe in something that is not immediately apparent to our senses. The chorus then comes in, repeating the phrase "What if God was one of us?" and asking whether we would treat Him as just another person if He were to appear before us.
The song concludes with a poignant image of a lonely God, rolling stone-like back to heaven, with no one calling on Him except for the Pope in Rome (who is not at home). This paints a picture of a God who is both powerful and vulnerable, majestic and ordinary, and reminds us that our relationship with Him is complex and multifaceted.
Line by Line Meaning
If God had a name, what would it be
Inquiring about the identity of God by questioning the name He is known by.
And would we call it 2 His face
Wondering if people will indeed address God by His name directly.
If we were faced with him and all his glory?
Asking what one would do if they came face to face with God in all His magnificence.
What would you ask if you had just one question?
Contemplating what a person would ask God if they only had the opportunity to ask one question.
What if God was one of us?
Pondering what it would be like if God lived among humans as one of them.
Just a slave like one of us?
Asking if God came to Earth, would He be treated like a common person rather than as a divine being.
Just a stranger on the bus trying to make his way home
Imagining God taking public transport and striving to reach His destination like everyone else.
If God had a face, what would it look like
Wondering about God's physical appearance if He happened to have one.
And would you want to see it
Questioning if people would genuinely desire to lay eyes on God's face, given the condition that they would have to believe in certain things to do so.
If seeing meant that you would have to believe in things like heaven, and Jesus and the saints and all the prophets?
Asking if viewing God's face meant having to believe in the religious concepts of heaven, Jesus, saints, and prophets.
Like a holy rolling stone
Imagining God akin to a pilgrim, continuously on the move.
Back up to heaven all alone
Thinking about the possibility of God returning to heaven alone without anyone's company.
Nobody calling on the phone
Describing a scenario where no one calls God, intending to point out that God may be forgotten or taken for granted.
'Except for the Pope maybe in Rome
Suggesting the Pope in Rome may be the only one who would reach out to God, indicating the isolation felt by God.
But He ain't home, he ain't home, he ain't home!
Reiterating the loneliness felt by God, saying that He may not be present even when people try to connect with Him.
No, no, no, He ain't home!
Stating outright God's absence, emphasizing the feeling of isolation and abandonment that God may be experiencing.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MadhouseCubano
I LOVE THIS FUCKIN SONG, MAN.
We all know THE TRUTH ... we just refuse to BELIEVE IT.
And there aint NO ROOM for WHAT IFS?
YEAH, GOD IS ONE ...
of US ALL.
"just a stranger on the bus trying to make his way ..." OM
GOD IS THE ETERNAL & BLISSFUL YOU !
THERE IS YOUR PROOF THAT GOD EXISTS.
@josemeireles6670
One of Us
Gregorian
If God had a name what would it be?
And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with him
In all his glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?
And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
If God had a face what would it look like?
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that
You would have to believe
In things like heaven and in Jesus and the saints
And all the prophets
Trying to make his way home
Back up…
@lubov_i_mir
If God had a name, what would it be
And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with Him in all His glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?
Yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?
If God had a face what would it look like?
And would you want to see if, seeing meant
That you would have to believe in things like heaven
And in Jesus and the saints, and all the prophets?
Yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah
@user-pi8ob5qj5l
Я не могу перестать слушать эту песню. Она воплощенная любовь.
@albertoaguirre8541
Great lovely song ❤❤❤
@ysaacwichmannantinao3502
GLORY TO GOD FOR THIS MAGNIFICENT AND HEAVENLY ANGELS VOICES IN THE WORLD POP MUSIC .
@EvelinaNinudottir
One doesn't have to be Christian to enjoy this song :) It's really nice
@waleedmohammed8493
i'm muslim Arabian And i love And I respect Jesus Christ 🙏
@zephirusd
just don't bomb us
@waleedmohammed8493
+zephirus deneva stop America bomb us
@vivianecurtis
I'm a Brazilian christian and I know about this. Love, peace and respect between religions.
@waleedmohammed8493
+Viviane Natali 💙💜❤
@joseniltonpalma4095
Nós obedecemos e seguimos Jesus, até que se torne, Jesus Christo.