Sara Parkman is a folk musician known to both question and embrace traditio… Read Full Bio ↴Sara Parkman is a folk musician known to both question and embrace traditions in such an unabashed and simultaneously thoughtful way, that one could say that she has created her own musical universe – and that by doing so, she has become the great poster name of contemporary Swedish folk music. Thanks to her two acclaimed solo albums, it is to be expected since some time that one can hear her music pulsate from the foggy depths of nordic forests during nocturnal rave parties – and equally expected to see her perform live in popular TV programs.

Violinist, singer and composer: three words that describe Sara Parkman. However, they are not enough to cover the width of what she has achieved during her career, which already stretches over more than 15 years. Her debut album as a solo artist was entitled Sara Parkmans Skog (2016), and it was awarded ‘Artist of the year’ at Folk & Världsmusikgalan, a Swedish gala to celebrate folk and world music. But Sara Parkman's most acclaimed release to date was 2019's Vesper. Named after the Christian evening prayer, this album was an exploration of the sacred through music. It was received by unanimously impressed critics and earned her a Swedish Grammy nomination as well as the newspaper Dagens Nyheter's Culture Prize.

Kyrie / Sjung syster sjung!
Sara Parkman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Kyrie eleision
Kyrie eleison
Kriste eleison
Kriste eleison

Skriv in, skriv om, håll ut
Skriv av, skriv in, lägg till
Sjung syster, sjung

Skrik, syster skrik
Hugg in i ditt namn i tiden
Sjung mig in i oss

gud hjälp oss att dela gemenskap
Gud hjälp oss att härda ut
Herre förbarma dig över oss
Herre förbarma dig över oss

Skriv in, skriv om, håll ut
Skriv av, skriv in, lägg till
Sjung syster, sjung
Skrik, syster skrik

Hugg in i ditt namn i tiden
Sjung mig in i oss

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sara Parkman's song Kyrie / Sjung syster sjung! convey a sense of pleading and hope for divine mercy and help during times of struggle and hardship. The repetition of "Kyrie eleison" and "Kriste eleison" is a direct appeal for forgiveness and salvation from God. The singer then implores herself and others to persevere through difficult times, to write and rewrite our stories, to add to them, and to ultimately become a part of something greater than ourselves. The repeated refrain of "Sjung syster, sjung" (Sing, sister, sing) is a call to use our voices to connect with each other and with a higher power, to cry out in pain but also to find solace and strength through music and community.

The final lines of the song - "Hugg in i ditt namn i tiden / Sjung mig in i oss" (Carve your name into time / Sing me into us) - suggest a desire for a deeper sense of identity and belonging, to leave a lasting impression upon the world and to feel united with others through shared experiences and shared struggles. The song ultimately speaks to the power of music and the human voice to bring us together, to soothe our fears and our pain, and to help us find meaning and purpose in our lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Kyrie eleision
Lord have mercy

Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy

Kriste eleison
Christ have mercy

Skriv in, skriv om, håll ut
Write down, rewrite, endure

Skriv av, skriv in, lägg till
Write off, write in, add

Sjung syster, sjung
Sing sister, sing

Skrik, syster skrik
Scream, sister, scream

Hugg in i ditt namn i tiden
Carve your name into time

Sjung mig in i oss
Sing me into us

Gud hjälp oss att dela gemenskap
God help us share community

Gud hjälp oss att härda ut
God help us endure