Since her career began in 1981, Gerrard has been involved in a wide range of projects. She received a Golden Globe Award for the music score to the film Gladiator, on which she collaborated with Hans Zimmer.
Lisa Gerrard was born on 12 April 1961 in Melbourne, and grew up in the suburb of Prahran with her Irish immigrant parents. She has said that she grew up with "Mediterranean music blaring out of the houses" and that this influenced her music, particularly on later Dead Can Dance albums and in her solo and collaborative works.
Gerrard's first foray into forming bands and creative music-making was in Melbourne's little band scene, an experimental post-punk scene which flourished from 1978 until 1981. It was at one of these little band events that she first met Dead Can Dance co-founder Brendan Perry. Perry recalls, "It never occurred to me that we would one day collaborate musically together because at the time I thought her music was too avant garde. I particularly remember one song that she sang about finding a man in the park and asking her mother if she could bring him home to keep in her wardrobe as she attacked this chinese dulcimer with two bamboo sticks".
Dead Can Dance originally formed as a quartet in 1981 in Melbourne, but in 1982 moved to London with members Gerrard, Brendan Perry and bass player Paul Erikson. Shortly after coming to England, Erikson flew back to Australia, leaving the band as a duo. Dead Can Dance recorded eight albums on the 4AD Records recording label beginning with the self-titled Dead Can Dance LP in 1984. In 2005, the song "Nierika" became part of the opening titles for Mexican television station TV Azteca's soap opera "La Chacala". The band split in 1998, but reunited in 2005 for a world tour. In 2012, the band announced a new world tour to coincide with the release of their new album, Anastasis.
Gerrard possesses the vocal range of a contralto but can also reach upward into the mezzo-soprano range. Her voice has been described as rich, deep, dark, mournful and unique.
Examples of Gerrard's mezzo-soprano range include the songs "The Host of Seraphim", "Elegy", "Space Weaver", "Come This Way" and "One Perfect Sunrise". Gerrard however performs more predominantly in the dramatic contralto range in her other songs, "Sanvean", "Sacrifice", "Largo", "Lament" and "Not Yet".
Gerrard sings many of her songs, such as "Now We Are Free", "Come Tenderness", "Serenity", "The Valley of the Moon", "Tempest", "Pilgrimage of Lost Children", "Coming Home" and "Sanvean" in idioglossia. With respect to such work she has said, "I sing in the language of the Heart. It's an invented language that I've had for a very long time. I believe I started singing in it when I was about 12. Roughly that time. And I believed that I was speaking to God when I sang in that language."
Gerrard was married to Polish graphic design artist and music producer Jacek Tuschewski, with whom she has a daughter (born 1992).
Her nephew Jack Gerrard plays for Cairns post-hardcore act Almost a Square as the drummer and back-up vocalist.
Sleep
Lisa Gerrard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As a mother hears
While her children sleep
Now look
See how they're dreaming
The black reciter reads
While the children sleep
Don't go so
Where you'll shy
Know you'll wander
In sleep
Don't you fly
Too far away
Some men die
Without crying
Suffering so long
And alone
Softly, children
Dry your eyes
Gently, children
Be wise
My attends to you
As a mother hears
All her children's fears
So don't cry
All will wash away
When we pray
Soon
Soon
Soon
So if it's okay
I'll wait with you a while
The sun began to shine
Oh, look
Your wings are broken
But never a lie
Was spoken
The murdered thing
Is love, you see
Drifting on a bed
Of memory
Now sleep
Close your eyes
And have no fear
A wide blue sky
Is very near
Soon
Soon
Soon
Soon
Sleep
[My attends to you
As a mother hears
While her children fears
Sleep]
The lyrics to Lisa Gerrard's song Sleep depict a sense of protection and comfort being offered to someone in their sleep. The singer refers to themselves as attending to the listener, similar to how a mother listens for her child while they sleep. The black reciter, possibly referencing the Grim Reaper, is mentioned reading while the children sleep, which may signify the inevitability of death. The singer warns the listener not to delve too deeply into their dreams, as they may become lost or overwhelmed.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is offering guidance or solace to someone who is experiencing pain or heartbreak, or possibly someone who is near death. The singer implies that through prayer or hope, their troubles can be washed away. The line "The murdered thing is love, you see" adds a further layer of complexity to the song's meaning, suggesting that love can be destroyed or lost.
Overall, the song's atmosphere is one of tranquility and trust. The singer offers reassurance and strength to the listener, encouraging them to sleep without fear and reminding them that pain is temporary.
Line by Line Meaning
My attends to you
I pay close attention to you
As a mother hears
Just like a mother listens carefully to her child
While her children sleep
While her children are peacefully resting
Now look
Take a moment to observe
See how they're dreaming
Watch how they're creating their own world in their dreams
The black reciter reads
A storyteller is sharing tales
While the children sleep
While the children are sleeping soundly
Don't go so
Don't become too
Deep in slumber
Completely lost in sleep
Where you'll shy
Where you'll become timid
Know you'll wander
You'll drift aimlessly
In sleep
While you're dreaming
Don't you fly
Don't allow yourself to become completely lost
Too far away
Completely out of touch
Some men die
Some people leave this world
Without crying
Without shedding tears
Suffering so long
Enduring immense pain for a prolonged period of time
And alone
Without anyone to share that pain with
Softly, children
Gently, little ones
Dry your eyes
Wipe your tears
Gently, children
Softly, little ones
Be wise
Use good judgement
My attends to you
I pay close attention to you
As a mother hears
Just like how a mother is attentive towards her child
All her children's fears
I'm aware of all your fears
So don't cry
So there's no need to shed tears
All will wash away
All your worries will disappear
When we pray
When we seek divine intervention
Soon
Very soon
Soon
Very soon
Soon
Very soon
So if it's okay
If it's alright with you
I'll wait with you a while
I'll stay by your side for some time
The sun began to shine
The sun started to rise
Oh, look
Hey, take a look
Your wings are broken
Your spirit has been shattered
But never a lie
But the truth was always there
Was spoken
And was always spoken
The murdered thing
The victimised entity
Is love, you see
Is none other than love
Drifting on a bed
Flowing on a cushion
Of memory
Of all the good times that have passed
Now sleep
Sleep now
Close your eyes
Shut your eyes
And have no fear
And don't be afraid
A wide blue sky
A vast blue expanse above us
Is very near
Is close by
Soon
Very soon
Soon
Very soon
Soon
Very soon
Soon
Very soon
Sleep
Go to sleep
Contributed by Vivian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Becky Evans Davis
so deep in slumber that you shan't know you're wanderin'.
sleep
Becky Evans Davis
my ear attends to you
@syedtariqshah2931
Don't go so
Deep in slumber
Where you'll shy
Know you'll wander
In sleep
Don't you fly
Too far away
Some men die
Without crying
Suffering so long
And alone
Softly, children
Dry your eyes
Oh, look
Your wings are broken
But never a lie
Was spoken
The murdered thing
Is love, you see
Drifting on a bed
Of memory
Now sleep
Close your eyes
And have no fear
A wide blue sky
Is very near
Soon
Sleep
@user-wh3oe3ep2h
As a mother hears
All her children's fears
So don't cry
All will wash away
When we pray
Soon
Soon
Soon
So if it's okay
I'll wait with you a while
The sun began to shine
Oh, look
Your wings are broken
But never a lie
Was spoken
The murdered thing
Is love, you see
Drifting on a bed
Of memory
Now sleep
Close your eyes
And have no fear
A wide blue sky
Is very near
Soon
Soon
Soon
Soon
Sleep
@videnteloco
Can't get enough of this woman!
@db6625
This is sooooo beautiful, relaxs the mind and soul.
@annalisa14
All will wash away, when we pray...
@rubenroman5663
April 12th 2023, Happy birthday glorious muse, goddess of music
@annalisa14
Lisa Gerrard sings The Blues. 😀😃😄
@anvermeiren7335
Dit blijft zo ongelofelijk mooi ♥️
@mrsjones7706
Dit nummer neem ik heel mijn leven mee, het zit in mijn hart, en zal daar altijd blijven ❤
@joaopires3605
A simplicidade da melodia , o controlo da voz, a capacidade de nos tocar nos cantos mais recônditos do nosso coração fazem de Lisa Gerrard um caso único na música mundial. Obrigado, Lisa, por abrires o meu coração a emoções que eu pensava que nao possuia.