The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is made up of some 360 men and women, all of whom are volunteers. There are many husband-wife combinations and many families have participated in the choir for generations. Choir members are currently limited to twenty years of participation, allowing new members to join the choir on a regular basis.
The choir was founded in August 1847, one month after the Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. The choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to support their organization. Choir members are not paid for their participation or performances.
Although the choir has traditionally been recognized for its sound quality, the most recent director, Craig Jessop, a student of Robert Shaw, has made changes designed to improve the overall quality of the choir. Jessop's efforts to add vitality to the choir's sound include the formation of The Orchestra at Temple Square, the 2005 addition of The Bells on Temple Square (a hand bell choir), and continual refinement of the choir's tone, enunciation, and repetoire. The minimum age for participation has been reduced from 30 to 25. In addition, new choir members participate in The Temple Square Chorale training choir, a combination music theory/performance school led by associate director and composer/arranger Mack Wilberg.
Impossible Dream
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
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To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into hell
For a heavenly cause
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's song "The Impossible Dream" is a stirring ballad that speaks to the human desire to achieve the impossible. The lyrics speak of fighting unbeatable foes, running where the brave dare not go, and righting unrightable wrongs. The song encourages us to love with purity and chaste from afar and to try even when our arms are too weary to bear the unbearable sorrow. The ultimate goal is to reach the unreachable star, a star that shines brighter than any other in the sky.
The theme of the song is the quest for the impossible dream. It is a dream that seems unattainable but is worth pursuing nonetheless. It is a call to action to fight for what is right without question or pause, even if it means marching into hell for a heavenly cause. The song encourages us not to give up on our dreams, even when our journey seems difficult.
In conclusion, "The Impossible Dream" is a moving ballad that inspires us to never give up on our dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem. It pushes us to strive for greatness and to fight for what is right, no matter what obstacles we may face.
Line by Line Meaning
To dream the impossible dream
To have a vision of achieving something that seems impossible or unlikely
To fight the unbeatable foe
To struggle against a powerful and seemingly invincible opponent
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To endure great emotional or mental pain that seems unbearable
To run where the brave dare not go
To take risks and go to places that are deemed too dangerous or challenging for even the bravest people
To right the unrightable wrong
To correct an injustice or wrong that seems impossible to fix or change
To love pure and chaste from afar
To have a deep and wholesome love for someone from a distance without any impure or inappropriate intentions
To try when your arms are too weary
To keep striving towards a goal even when feeling exhausted or discouraged
To reach the unreachable star
To achieve something that is considered beyond reach or impossible
This is my quest
This is my personal journey or mission
To follow that star
To pursue a goal or dream with dedication and determination
No matter how hopeless
Regardless of how bleak or impossible the situation may seem
No matter how far
Regardless of how distant or unattainable the goal may appear
To fight for the right
To stand up for what is just and fair
Without question or pause
Without hesitation or second-guessing
To be willing to march into hell
To be ready to face extreme hardship or danger for a noble cause
For a heavenly cause
For a cause that is virtuous and righteous
And I know if I'll only be true
And I am certain that if I remain committed and faithful to my goal
To this glorious quest
To this admirable pursuit or mission
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
That I will find inner peace and contentment
When I'm laid to my rest
When I pass away or die
And the world will be better for this
And the world will improve or benefit because of my efforts
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
That one person, who was rejected and wounded in the past
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
Still persisted with the little strength and bravery he had remaining
To reach the unreachable star
To achieve a goal or dream that seemed impossible, but was pursued nonetheless
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOE DARION, MITCHELL LEIGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind