That quality, often lacking in pop musicians, has resulted in two ambitious musical projects that were composed and written with a certain theme in mind. Eternal Woman (2001) is about the lives of eleven great women, ranging from Maria Magdalena and Cleopatra to Marie-Antoinette and Catharina the Great. This project was followed in 2003 by another ‘concept’ album (Mistress), this time about the fate of famous and tragic lovers such as Catharina de Medici, Frida Kahlo and even Hillary Clinton. Both albums were a huge international success and Eternal Woman even became platinum.
However, on tour Petra came to realize that these wonderful historical productions, how interesting they were and still are, had nothing to do with her own life. She doesn’t play a role in the political arena and she is definitely not a tragic lover. Furthermore, Petra and her husband Jeroen Englebert (composer/producer) are now the proud parents of a son and a daughter, which has altered their perspectives on life and work tremendously. "It was time to look for repertoire that not only appeals to me musically. Its content should also reflect who I am and what makes me tick at this moment in my life," she says.
"As a result, this is the most intimate and tender record I can think of. I wonder if I will be able to stay as true to myself in the future. Love, in all its manifestations, is the central theme of this album, ranging from the love of a son for his deceased father (If came the hour), romantic love (happy or not) and, for instance, the love between two fighting friends who don’t want to let go of each other (Can’t let go). They are able to forgive because they realize that their friendship is more important than their wounded egos. It’s a beautiful duet with Simone Kleinsma, whom I know very well, having co-starred with her in the musical Sweeny Todd many years ago. Then there are two compositions especially for my children, one of them being Conta sempre su di me, which means: whatever you do, you can always count on me. The music was written by Tjeerd Oosterhuis, who also produced this album. The Italian lyrics are a faithful translation of the lyrics about the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child that I wrote for this song. It’s a different relationship from any other. It’s true: you bring them into this world, look into their eyes and you know: this is forever. Liberta, the other song, is an encouragement for my children to become who they truly want to become."
Last but not least, there is the all-revealing title track ‘Here and Now’, which reflects the overall emotional significance of the album both in its lyrics (Petra Berger) and music (After Forever). Based on the books of mystic Eckhart Tolle, it is a spirited and intensely cheerful recommendation to us all to let go of our past disappointments and pain; to no longer be afraid and just live in the NOW.
(taken from her official site)
Terra Promessa
Petra Berger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
e la realtá di colpo puó ferire chi non sá,
anche una principessa, l’amore.....
Il sogno dov’é ?
Terra Promessa, ti lasceró,
ma lascio a te anche una parte di me stessa
ti piangeró e nei miei sogni resterai con me; ovunque andró.
Fatalitá; se l’ha voluto Iddio mi piegheró e pregheró.
La morte é in me, negli occhi della gente intorno a me
la guerra fende il cuore, l’amore....
Il sogno dov’é ?
Addio dintorni; vi lasceró !
La storia detta e segna il resto dei miei giorni.
Vi piangeró e nasconderó la mia tristezza,….sempre.
Terra Promessa, io me ne andró
anche se non vorrei lasciarti e son costretta.
Ritorneró e soffriró con te in silenzio finche vivró.
Te Deum laudamus La pace ritornerá.
Te aeternum Patrem
Sanctus (3x) Ma non nel mio cuore;
Dominus Deus mai ci sará !
Terra Promessa, ti lasceró,
ma lascio a te anche una parte di me stessa
ti piangeró e non avró mai pace dentro,….dentro.
Terra Promessa, a chi diró
che questa luna non sará mai piu la stessa
ti piangeró e sarai sempre la mia Italia,
ma mai piu ti avró….
The lyrics to Petra Berger's song Terra Promessa are about the pain of leaving one's home and country behind. The song speaks of fate and how it can hurt those who are unaware of its power. The singer wonders where her dreams have gone and considers the cost of leaving everything behind. She speaks of war and death and how it impacts the people around her, including herself. She must leave her surroundings behind as dictated by the course of history, but she knows that she will never truly leave everything behind. She promises to return and suffer with her homeland in silence until the end of her days.
The song is full of melancholy and a sense of loss. The singer longs to stay but is forced to leave behind all that she loves. The song is an ode to Italy, speaking of the country's beauty and long history. The lyrics are full of strong emotions that evoke sympathy in the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Fatalitá; se il mio destino era legato a te, amica mia,
It was inevitable that my destiny was linked to you, my friend,
e la realtá di colpo puó ferire chi non sá,
And reality can suddenly hurt someone who doesn't know,
anche una principessa, l’amore.....
Even a princess, love.....
Il sogno dov’é ?
Where is the dream?
Terra Promessa, ti lasceró,
Promised Land, I'll leave you,
ma lascio a te anche una parte di me stessa
But I also leave a part of myself with you,
ti piangeró e nei miei sogni resterai con me; ovunque andró.
I'll cry for you and you'll stay with me in my dreams; wherever I'll go.
Fatalitá; se l’ha voluto Iddio mi piegheró e pregheró.
It was inevitable; if God wanted it, I'll bend and pray.
La morte é in me, negli occhi della gente intorno a me
Death is in me, in the eyes of the people around me,
la guerra fende il cuore, l’amore....
War breaks the heart, love....
Il sogno dov’é ?
Where is the dream?
Addio dintorni; vi lasceró !
Goodbye surroundings; I'll leave you!
La storia detta e segna il resto dei miei giorni.
History tells and marks the rest of my days.
Vi piangeró e nasconderó la mia tristezza,….sempre.
I'll cry for you and hide my sadness, always.
Terra Promessa, io me ne andró
Promised Land, I'll leave you,
anche se non vorrei lasciarti e son costretta.
Even though I don't want to leave you, I'm forced to.
Ritorneró e soffriró con te in silenzio finche vivró.
I'll come back and suffer with you in silence as long as I live.
Te Deum laudamus La pace ritornerá.
We praise you, God. Peace will return.
Te aeternum Patrem
You, eternal Father
Sanctus (3x) Ma non nel mio cuore;
Holy (3x), but not in my heart;
Dominus Deus mai ci sará !
Lord God, there will never be!
Terra Promessa, ti lasceró,
Promised Land, I'll leave you,
ma lascio a te anche una parte di me stessa
But I also leave a part of myself with you,
ti piangeró e non avró mai pace dentro,….dentro.
I'll cry for you and I'll never have peace inside,...inside.
Terra Promessa, a chi diró
Promised Land, to whom shall I say
che questa luna non sará mai piu la stessa
that this moon will never be the same
ti piangeró e sarai sempre la mia Italia,
I'll cry for you and you'll always be my Italy,
ma mai piu ti avró….
But I'll never have you again....
Contributed by Alexander T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Victoria Peñaloza
Fatalitá; se il mio destino era legato a te, amica mia,
E la realtá di colpo puó ferire chi non sá,
Anche una principessa, l'amore...
Il sogno dov'é?
Terra Promessa, ti lasceró,
Ma lascio a te anche una parte di me stessa
Ti piangeró e nei miei sogni resterai con me; ovunque andró.
Fatalitá; se l'ha voluto Iddio mi piegheró e pregheró.
La morte é in me, negli occhi della gente intorno a me
La guerra fende il cuore, l'amore...
Il sogno dov'é?
Addio dintorni; vi lasceró!
La storia detta e segna il resto dei miei giorni.
Vi piangeró e nasconderó la mia tristezza,...sempre.
Terra Promessa, io me ne andró
Anche se non vorrei lasciarti e son costretta.
Ritorneró e soffriró con te in silenzio finche vivró.
Te Deum laudamus La pace ritornerá.
Te aeternum Patrem
Sanctus (3x) Ma non nel mio cuore;
Dominus Deus mai ci sará!
Terra Promessa, ti lasceró,
Ma lascio a te anche una parte di me stessa
Ti piangeró e non avró mai pace dentro,...dentro.
Terra Promessa, a chi diró
Che questa luna non sará mai piu la stessa
Ti piangeró e sarai sempre la mia Italia,
Ma mai piu ti avró...
Marina Ulyanova
Волшебно! Завораживает и музыка и голос!
svetlana butakova
Изумительные моменты восторга , от чистоты звука , искусства воплощения музыки певческим голосом. Выбор репертуара, это , тоже , немаловажно. Должен держатся накал страсти музыки, голоса и души. И всегда , путь , к вершине. А без этого , музыка, не музыка. Путь к Свету и совершенству -- Ура!
Rashed Chowdhury
Such a beautiful song! Great story behind it as well.
Sylvia Laidlaw
Very beautiful song. I love it.♥
UltimaThule
Probably THE best song I have ever heard (or at least the top 5), even without the great accompanying video.
Heavenly.
Valeriu Ghimpu
Very beautiful music!
W. Sorokina
Невероятной красоты композиция, ангельский голос...мои аплодисменты, госпожа Бергер!💖🔥
oreginale
Конечно не Эмма Шаплин но тоже красиво.
Valeriu Ghimpu
I love The Netherlands very much! A very beautiful country with very beautiful and colourful flowers! A very beautiful symphony of Tulips - The Netherlands!
Efsane Seksenler
Flawless melodies!!.. Love it!!