Although serving as composer, arranger, conductor, pianist and producer on his recordings, Paul puts his music to the forefront and does not put his name on the covers of the State of Grace recordings. In addition, although a few of the pieces on his albums are instrumentals, most feature solo or chorus vocals by singers such as Lisbeth Scott and Rebecca Luker, both of whom Schwartz has worked with for many years. "I'm listed in the credits similarly to a film director," he explains. "I create the overall sound production, but I don't feel the need to be in the spotlight by myself."
Miserere
Paul Schwartz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Miserere, misero me
Pero' brindo alla vita!
Ma che mistero, e'la mia vita
Che mistero!
Sono un peccatore dell'anno ottantamila
Un menzognero!
Ma dove sono e cosa faccio
Vivo nell'anima del mondo
Perso nel vivere profondo!
Miserere, misero me
Pero' brindo alla vita!
Io sono il santo che ti ha tradito
Quando eri solo
E vivo altrove e osservo il mondo
Dal cielo,
E vedo il mare e le foreste,
Vedo me che....
Vivo nell'anima del mondo
Perso nel vivere profondo!
Miserere, misero me
Pero brindo alla vita!
Se c'e' una notte buia abbastanza
Da nascondermi, nascondermi,
Se c'e' una luce, una speranza
Sole magnifico che splendi
Dentro me
Dammi la gioia di vivere
Che ancora non c'?
Miserere, miserere
Quella gioia di vivere
Che forse, ancora non c'è?
Miserere
The song "Miserere" by Paul Schwartz is a reflective piece that contemplates the mystery of life and the struggles of being human. The opening lines of the song repeat the word "Miserere," which means "have mercy" in Latin, setting a tone of lament and longing. The singer acknowledges his flaws, calling himself a sinner and a liar, but he still celebrates life, raising a glass to it. He questions his purpose and existence, feeling lost in the deep flow of living. The song then takes on a spiritual turn, with the singer referring to himself as the saint who betrayed his loved ones, now residing in heaven, watching over the world. He sees the beauty of nature and his own image but still feels like his true essence is inside the soul of the world. The final lines of the song plead for the joy of living and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Overall, the song's message is one of duality, celebrating life while acknowledging its hardships and the questioning of one's purpose. The use of religious imagery and Latin phrases adds to the contemplative tone of the song, hinting at a search for meaning beyond the human realm.
Line by Line Meaning
Miserere, miserere,
Oh mercy, oh mercy,
Miserere, misero me
Mercy, poor me
Pero' brindo alla vita!
But I still raise a toast to life!
Ma che mistero, e'la mia vita
What a mystery my life is,
Che mistero!
What a mystery!
Sono un peccatore dell'anno ottantamila
I am a sinner of the year eighty-thousand,
Un menzognero!
A liar!
Ma dove sono e cosa faccio
But where am I and what am I doing,
Come vivo?
How do I live?
Vivo nell'anima del mondo
I live within the soul of the world,
Perso nel vivere profondo!
Lost in deep living!
Io sono il santo che ti ha tradito
I am the saint who betrayed you,
Quando eri solo
When you were alone
E vivo altrove e osservo il mondo
And I live elsewhere and observe the world,
Dal cielo,
From the sky,
E vedo il mare e le foreste,
And I see the sea and the forests,
Vedo me che....
I see myself that...
Vivo nell'anima del mondo
I live within the soul of the world,
Perso nel vivere profondo!
Lost in deep living!
Se c'e' una notte buia abbastanza
If there is a dark enough night,
Da nascondermi, nascondermi,
To hide me, hide me,
Se c'e' una luce, una speranza
If there is a light, a hope,
Sole magnifico che splendi
Magnificent sun that shines,
Dentro me
Within me
Dammi la gioia di vivere
Give me the joy of living,
Che ancora non c'?
That is not yet here?
Miserere, miserere
Oh mercy, oh mercy
Quella gioia di vivere
That joy of living,
Che forse, ancora non c'è?
That perhaps, is not yet here?
Miserere
Oh mercy
Contributed by Alex S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Erwin Emil Reinhardt
Translating in English of Misere by Paul Schwartz.
Latin below !
Have Mercy
Have mercy on me, God
According to your great kindness.
Have mercy (4*)
And according to the multitude of your mercies
Wash me completely from my iniquities
And cleanse me of my sins
Cleanse me
Wash me completely from my iniquities
And cleanse me of my sins
Cleanse me
Have mercy (….)
( Source Internet )
The English text has been slightly modified by myself to better respect the latin text. Notably the repetition Munda me which was originaly translated by '' my sins '' but which means '' purify me '' or as in this translation '' cleanse me '' the verb being rejected at the end of the sentence.
For purists, this text is an excerpt from Psalm 51 (Psalm 50 in latin numbering) which is one of the seven psalms of the Penitential Psalms (Ps6, Ps32, Ps38, Ps51, Ps102, Ps130, Ps143).
In the liturgy of the Mass, verse 3 " God, please take pity on me, ..." is the translation of the ancient Greek "Κύριε ἐλέησον" and corresponds to the song Kyrie Eleison of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.
--------------------------------------
Latin
Miserere
Miserere mei, Deus
Secundum Magnam misericordiam tuam
Miserere (4*)
Et secundum multitudinem
Miserationum tuarum
Amplius lave me ab iniquitatem mea
Et un peccato meo munda me
Munda me
Amplius lave me ab iniquitatem mea
Et un peccato meo munda me
Munda me
Miserere (….)
Tee Ashby
Miserere, miserere,
Miserere, misero me
Pero' brindo alla vita!
Ma che mistero, e'la mia vita
Che mistero!
Sono un peccatore dell'anno ottantamila
Un menzognero!
Ma dove sono e cosa faccio
Come vivo?
Vivo nell'anima del mondo
Perso nel vivere profondo!
Miserere, misero me
Pero' brindo alla vita!
Io sono il santo che ti ha tradito
Quando eri solo
E vivo altrove e osservo il mondo
Dal cielo,
E vedo il mare e le foreste,
Vedo me che....
Vivo nell'anima del mondo
Perso nel vivere profondo!
Miserere, misero me
Pero brindo alla vita!
Se c'e' una notte buia abbastanza
Da nascondermi, nascondermi,
Se c'e' una luce, una speranza
Sole magnifico che splendi
Dentro me
Dammi la gioia di vivere
Che ancora non c'?
Miserere, miserere
Quella gioia di vivere
Che forse, ancora non c'è?
Miserere
Lilac Lilly
Simply beautiful! 🕊A stair way to heaven 🕊 Stay safe 🙏🏼
Prof Sattar Basra
Listen to it a couple of times. It evokes reverence and transcendence. The tone colours of harmony seamlessly blend with the rise and fall of the choral phrases. Tranquillizes the frayed nerves. Vangelis must kiss Paul' hand.
Waxer3929
He took one of my favorite choral songs and turned it into something truly spectacular.
Canale Grande
Miserere mei, Deus,
Secundum magnam misericordiam tuam;
Miserere, Miserere
Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum,
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me.
Carlos Bastidas
Really great and unique, the art of playing the soul.
Realmente estupendo e insuperable, el arte de tocar el alma.
Anastasie
My mom bought that CD of Paul Schwartz 20 years ago and I was listening to it a lot when I was a teenager.
Completely forgot about it until tonight's insomnia when it popped up in my head.
Now that I hear it again after so many years, I can see everything as it was : the house near the beach, my room smelling like sand and incense. Nokia cellphone that had just enough memory to handle 20 texts. I was stressed for so many reasons, I thought life could be better or something.
But it was actually perfect. Life is always perfect. We're always the 1st role of our own universe.
Nadya Borg-Busuttil
@Anastasie, I, as a Mother, bought this CD as well around 20 years ago, and was blissfully listening to it with headphones, as I was travelling with my blood sisters, nieces and nephews to one magical spot of pristine nature in Italy. I had just come out of a super intensive Retreat and Rebirth.....and was constantly holding this Pristine Vibration/Frequency during those Days. I hold the Vision that One Day soon my Son, and family will mirror "your" Same REALISATIONS! PEACE!
skylilly1
Paul Schwartz is a musical genious!!!!!
jorge garcía díaz
Musicalización del Salmo 51 del Antiguo testamento por Gregorio Allegri , en el siglo XVII, durante el papado de URBANO VIII ,durante un tiempo solo pudo ser interpretada en la Capilla Sixtina durante los miercoles y viernes de Semana Santa so pena de excomunión. Y ahora tenemos esta hermosa versión contemporánea de Paul Schwartz.
Dennis Clarke
When I am down, I listen to Paul.....I get a spiritual High ! keep it up Paul !