… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two bands named Secret Garden or Secret Gardens.
(1) Secret Garden is an Irish-Norwegian duo playing New Instrumental Music, also understood by some as Neo-classical music.
It features the Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry and the Norwegian composer/pianist Rolf Løvland. Secret Garden has sold over 3 million albums and won the Eurovision Song Contest for Norway in 1995, with the composition Nocturne. It was the first and only time to date that a predominantly instrumental piece has won the Eurovision Song Contest, although a few Norwegian language lyrics were included to ensure that the entry adhered to the contest's rules. In addition Rolf Løvland also co-wrote the song La det swinge (Let it swing) that secured Norway its first Eurovision Song Contest victory in 1985.
Their success at Eurovision spearheaded the success of their first album Songs from a Secret Garden. It sold a million copies around the world going platinum in Norway and Korea, gold in Ireland, Hong Kong and New Zealand and spending two years in the Billboard New Age charts in 1996 and 1997. Barbara Streisand adapted Heartstrings from this album as the song I've Dreamed Of You on her A Love Like Ours album. She also used Heartstrings in her wedding to James Brolin.
The album White Stones followed in 1997 also making the top ten on Billboard New Age charts. Dawn of a New Century in 1999, Dreamcatcher in 2001 and Once In a Red Moon also enjoyed success around the world including reaching top ten on the Billboard.
Their most famous song You Raise Me Up, performed by Brian Kennedy has been recorded by more than a hundred other artists including Josh Groban and Westlife.
Secret Garden has released a Dreamcatcher: Best Of for its tour through Australia and New Zealand in 2004. It reached the top of the Australian New Age charts and the ARIA top 50 album charts.
Rolf Løvland won the price of years line-price in Spellemann 2007. In that same year, the album Inside I'm Singing was released.
Their official site can be found at www.secretgarden.no
Secret Garden's albums (in chronological order):
Songs from a Secret Garden (1996)
White stones (1997)
Dawn of a New Century (1999)
Dreamcatcher (2001)
Once in a Red Moon (2002)
Dreamcatcher: Best Of (2004, Australia)
Earthsongs (2005)
Inside I'm Singing (2007)
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(2) Secret Gardens is a post-rock band based out of New York and led by Greg Almeida. They have released two full-length albums, Tundra (2021) and their most recent release, everbloom (2022). Their debut EP, Verão, was released in 2019.
Verão (2019)
Tundra (2021)
everbloom (2022)
Greg Almeida has described these albums as part of an ongoing series of four planned records sonically representing the seasons. The latest, everbloom, is the spring installment in this series and features guest vocals from Andrew Wells (Eidola).
If Came The Hour
Secret Garden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If came the year, when you went away
How could I live, I'd surely die
What would I be if you say goodbye
How would I laugh, how could I love
Could I believe in a God above
How would I hope, how could I pray
But you are here, lying beside me
I watch you breath, each rise and fall
Without you here, then there would be
Nothing at all
If in this world, all things must pass
And we must raise, the parting glass
No words would ever come
What could I say
If came the hour, if came the day
There'd be no music in my soul
How could I dance, now you to hold
How could I hear the violin
There'd be no song, I could ever sing
But you are here, lying beside me
I watch you breath, each rise and fall
Without you here, then there would be
Nothing at all
Now you awake, the dawn sweeps in
I touch your mouth, I touch your skin
How would I live, if you should go away
If came the hour, if came the day
How could I live, if you should go away
If came the hour, if came the day
If came the hour, if came the day
The lyrics of Secret Garden's song "If Came the Hour" explore the idea of losing someone and the emptiness that would follow. The lyrics present a hypothetical scenario where the person the singer loves goes away, and the singer contemplates the impact it would have on their life. It would be heart-wrenching to the extent that they wouldn't be able to live without them. The lyrics also reflect the significance of having someone to love, hold, and cherish. The lyrics convey that the presence of the loved one is what gives meaning to the singer's life.
The lyrics are filled with emotions and are beautifully written. The song has a slow and gentle melody that complements the lyrics, making it a moving and emotional ballad. The message of the song is relatable for many as it's about the fear of losing someone we love and the emotions that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
If came the hour, if came the day
If the moment arrives, be it an hour or a day
If came the year, when you went away
When the year arrives, and you're gone
How could I live, I'd surely die
Living without you would lead to my breakdown
What would I be if you say goodbye
An individual without an identity or purpose
How would I laugh, how could I love
Laughing and loving would no longer be possible
Could I believe in a God above
Losing you would bring doubt to my belief in a higher power
How would I hope, how could I pray
Hope and prayer would feel like a futile attempt
But you are here, lying beside me
Thankful for your presence next to me
I watch you breath, each rise and fall
Counting each breath you take
Without you here, then there would be
Your absence would bring emptiness
Nothing at all
Life without you would be meaningless
If in this world, all things must pass
Knowing that everything in life is temporary
And we must raise, the parting glass
As we say goodbye, we raise a toast
No words would ever come
Speechless and unable to articulate emotions
What could I say
Speechless and struggle to express thoughts
There'd be no music in my soul
Without you, the joy in life would be missing
How could I dance, now you to hold
Unable to dance without you in my arms
How could I hear the violin
Unable to hear the beauty of music without you
There'd be no song, I could ever sing
Without you, there'd be no lyrics to express myself
Now you awake, the dawn sweeps in
As you wake up, the sunrise begins
I touch your mouth, I touch your skin
Touching you to confirm you're still here
How would I live, if you should go away
Asking the question of how I could move on without you
If came the hour, if came the day
Again acknowledging the potential loss of you
How could I live, if you should go away
The thought of living without you is unbearable
If came the hour, if came the day
The potential loss of you remains a constant fear
Contributed by Charlie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.