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.
Tears in Heaven
Gregorian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I saw you in heaven
Will it be the same
If I saw you in heaven.
I must be strong, and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven
If I saw you in heaven
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven.
I'll find my way, through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven
Here in heaven
Here in heaven
Time can bring you down
Time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please
Begging please.
I must be strong, and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven
The lyrics to Gregorian's "Tears in Heaven" convey deeply personal emotions from the perspective of someone grappling with the loss of a loved one. The opening lines, "Would you know my name / If I saw you in heaven / Will it be the same / If I saw you in heaven?" reflect the uncertainty and confusion that often accompanies the grief process. The singer wonders if their loved one would recognize them in the afterlife and if their relationship would remain unchanged. The repeated refrain, "Here in heaven," emphasizes the singer's feelings of disorientation and disconnection from their earthly life.
The second verse, "Would you hold my hand / If I saw you in heaven / Would you help me stand / If I saw you in heaven," highlights the singer's need for comfort and support. They imagine their loved one offering a hand to hold and help them through the difficulties of life without them. The singer acknowledges that they must continue on without their loved one, even though it is difficult: "I'll find my way, through night and day / 'Cause I know I just can't stay / Here in heaven."
Line by Line Meaning
Would you know my name
If I were to see you in the afterlife, would you still recognize me?
If I saw you in heaven
In the event that I am reunited with you in the afterlife
Will it be the same
Will the way we interact and feel remain just as it was before?
If I saw you in heaven
In the event that I am reunited with you in the afterlife
I must be strong, and carry on
I need to continue living and moving forward without you
'Cause I know I don't belong
I do not belong in the afterlife yet; I still have unfinished business here on earth
Here in heaven
This is not my final resting place
Would you hold my hand
If we were reunited in the afterlife, would you hold my hand?
If I saw you in heaven
In the event that I am reunited with you in the afterlife
Would you help me stand
If we were reunited in the afterlife, would you help me stand?
If I saw you in heaven
In the event that I am reunited with you in the afterlife
I'll find my way, through night and day
I will find a way to carry on without you, no matter how difficult it may be
'Cause I know I just can't stay
I cannot remain in the afterlife yet; I still have things to do on earth
Here in heaven
This is not my final resting place
Here in heaven
This is not my final resting place
Time can bring you down
The passage of time can be a difficult burden to bear
Time can bend your knees
The passage of time can weaken your resolve and determination
Time can break your heart
The passage of time can inflict great emotional pain and heartache
Have you begging please
It can be so overwhelming that you may be brought to the point of pleading for help
Begging please
Imploring someone to help you through the pain and hardship
I must be strong, and carry on
I need to continue living and moving forward without you
'Cause I know I don't belong
I do not belong in the afterlife yet; I still have unfinished business here on earth
Here in heaven
This is not my final resting place
'Cause I know I don't belong
I do not belong in the afterlife yet; I still have unfinished business here on earth
Here in heaven
This is not my final resting place
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eric Patrick Clapton, Will Jennings
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MalumbaBono
These are opportunistic guys who jumped on the bandwaggon when (real) Gregorian chant became popular with drug addicts during their "trips", a decade or two ago.
Real monks and nuns deliberately chant prayers and bible passages (mostly psalms) as simply, humbly and single-mindedly as possible, without instruments or vocal harmonies. THAT is the Gregorian style, named after a Pope Gregory I, who was the first monk to be elected pope, in 590 AD.
To set up as a commercial band and call yourselves "Masters of Chant" is the complete antithesis of monastic life - the irony is quite hilarious.
On the other hand, perhaps the Novice Master might disagree 😂
IMPORTANT note: I'm not saying a word against this beautiful song by Eric Clapton, which he wrote to help him cope with the tragic death of his son. R.I.P.
@jerryhaydel5172
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven
Will it be the same
If I saw you in heaven.
I must be strong, and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven
Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven.
I'll find my way, through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven
Here in heaven
Here in heaven
Time can bring you down
Time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please
Begging please.
I must be strong, and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven
@nodz_poetry0416
In tears, remembering my 6 yr old son in Heaven , its been 9 yrs had passed still the pain is here, just last month our beloved 8th yr old dog passed away, the one who helped us feel better when we lost our son.
@eltonbandeira3895
much love from brazil
@sallyanngrant6149
Also in tears remembering my Mum who died in 2010
@arisvulgaris8683
My only hope to hug you again... is in heaven 😢 you my only and deepest love of my life... You gave meaning to my next and forever nonexistent dimension! I love you more than you ever would imagine 💔
@asadahad8230
Gregorian I LOVE YOU FOREVER 🇮🇱
@kanashinamida339
Me and my late brother used to listen to this song together 😔😢
@xoticenigma6297
I think about my Grandfather when I listen to this song. He was a war hero in World War Two. He was one tough guy on the battlefield but there was something extremely innocent about him in person. 😰
@lizt2818
3:10-3:34 most beautiful part of entire song. Love this song. Used to listen to it all the time as a kid.
@freeri87
You too? So did I...
@user-em6te2fb2s
Christian and proud, I am from the country of Morocco