Parce mihi domine
Jan Garbarek [Saxophone] Lyrics
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Quid est homo, quia magnificas eum?
Aut quid apponis erga eum cor tuum? Visitas cum diluculo, et subito probas illum.
Usquequo non parcis michi, nec dimittas me, ut glutiam salivam meam? Peccavi.
Cur non tollis peccatum meum, et quare non aufers iniquitatem meam?
Ecce nunc in pulvere dormio; et si mane me quesieris, non subsistam.
Translation
Spare me, O Lord, for my days are nothing.
What is a man that thou shouldst magnify him?
Or why dost thou set thy heart upon him? Thou visitest him early in the morning, and thou provest him suddenly.
How long wilt thou not spare me, nor suffer me to swallow down my spittle? I have sinned.
What shall I do to thee, O keeper of men? why hast thou set me opposite to thee, and I am become burdensome to myself?
Why dost thou not remove my sin, and why dost thou not take away mine iniquity?
Behold now, I shall sleep in the dust: and if thou seek me in the morning, I shall not be.
The seventh track on Jan Garbarek's 1990 album 'I Took Up the Runes' is a haunting and introspective piece titled 'Parce mihi Domine.' The Latin lyrics translate to 'Spare me, O Lord' and are sourced from the Book of Job. Garbarek's composition is an instrumental interpretation of this text, but the gravity and depth of the message still resonate through his saxophone's mournful tones.
The lyrics speak of the fleeting nature of human life and the insignificance of man in the grand scheme of things. The singer questions their worthiness of divine attention and mercy and wonders why they have been burdened with such a heavy existence. There is a sense of resignation and acceptance towards the end, as the singer acknowledges their own mortality and implores the Lord to spare them from further suffering.
Garbarek's interpretation of this text is ethereal and otherworldly, and the sparse musical arrangement serves to highlight the weightiness of the lyrics. The saxophone's mournful notes ebb and flow like a tide, underscoring the cyclical nature of life and death. The absence of percussion or any other accompaniment emphasizes the solemnity of the piece and creates a sense of emptiness that echoes the lyrics' themes.
Line by Line Meaning
Parce mihi Domine, nihil enim sunt dies mei.
Oh Lord, have mercy on me because my life is fleeting.
Quid est homo, quia magnificas eum?
What is man, that you should honor him?
Aut quid apponis erga eum cor tuum? Visitas cum diluculo, et subito probas illum.
Why do you care for him? You scrutinize him every morning and test him suddenly.
Usquequo non parcis michi, nec dimittas me, ut glutiam salivam meam? Peccavi.
How long will you not forgive me, nor let me swallow my spit? I have sinned.
Quid faciam tibi, o custos hominum? Quare posuisti me contrarium tibi, et factus sum michimet ipsi gravis?
What can I do for you, O keeper of mankind? Why have you made me an adversary to you, and why am I a burden to myself?
Cur non tollis peccatum meum, et quare non aufers iniquitatem meam?
Why don't you take away my sin and remove my iniquity?
Ecce nunc in pulvere dormio; et si mane me quesieris, non subsistam.
Now I lay in the dust, and if you were to seek me in the morning, I would not be there.
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