1) Three Roma… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three bands/artists with this name:
1) Three Roman Catholic priests from Ireland.
2) A rock band from New York
3) For the Gothic Metal Washington DC. band, see Priests
1) The Priests are three Roman Catholic priests from Ballyclare and Ballygowan in Northern Ireland who have been singing together since they were children. After signing a $2million record deal with SonyBMG in 2008 they have been recording an album in Ireland, London and have been allowed to record in St. Peter's Basilica, The Vatican.
Their debut album was produced by Mike Hedges who has worked with, amongst others, U2, Dido and Manic Street Preachers, and is released on 24th November by Epic Records. It will be launched simultaneously in 33 countries and precedes an ITV documentary and PBS special in America.
Who they are:
* Father Eugene O’Hagan is of the Parish of Ballyclare and Ballygowan: Church of The Sacred Heart and Church of The Holy Family. Diocese of Down and Connor.
* Father Martin O’Hagan is of the Parish of Cushendun: Church of St. Patrick (Craigagh), Church of St. Mary, The Star of the Sea (Culraney). Diocese of Down and Connor.
* Father David Delargy is of the Parish of Hannahstown: Church of St. Joseph and Church of St. Peter, the Rock , Diocese of Down and Connor.
Record sales of debut album:
The Priests’ eponymous debut album recorded the biggest opening week of sales ever for a classical album.
The Priests, the album, shot into the UK album chart at number five in its first week and also topped the classical chart in its first week of release.
When the album was released in the UK, it was released in 33 countries at the same time and has already topped the charts in Ireland as well as making the top tens in album charts in countries as diverse as Spain, Norway and Sweden.
Around the world, sales of the album – which comprises spiritually inspired tracks such as Pie Jesu, Ave aria as well as great classical arias and traditional Irish - are soaring in the run-up to Christmas.
In the United States, sales are growing fast in anticipation of a coast-to-coast broadcast of a special two hour PBS TV programme about the group.
The trio are also the subject of an ITV documentary to be aired in the UK on December 14 telling the story of their incredible journey over the past 12 months.
The Priests, Fathers Eugene and Martin O Hagan, who are brothers and their schoolfriend of 30 years ago, Father David Delargy, are signed up to Sony BMG's Epic label under a unique deal which stipulates that none of their recording commitments will ever be allowed to stand in the way of their day jobs of parish priests in their neighbouring parishes.
The group is currently performing on tour in Canada and the USA and will be playing to massive audiences on a world arena tour next year. However, they will shortly be stopping all promotional work and other aspects of their recoding career in order to concentrate on the celebration in their parishes of the Christmas season.
They have promised that a substantial proportion of the money made from the sale of The Priests will go to various religious based charities.
Nick Raphael, managing director of the Epic label and the man who spotted The Priests, said: "It is incredible that, in the UK alone, their debut album has taken by storm an album chart in which it is competing with massive acts like The Killers, Guns N Roses, Leona Lewis and Dido.
"It is also an incredible achievement that, in terms of the classical chart, sales of The Priests have outstripped anything that Luciano Pavarotti or more recently Katherine Jenkins shifted in the first week of sales for any of their albums."
2) This State-of-New-York foursome embraces the mythic garage-rock-psych sounds of yesterday while creating the music of tomorrow in their own image. Hypnotic guitar lines, fuzzed-out organ and tribalistic back beats build the foundations of their unusual and original sound.
TALL TALES, the PRIESTS latest release and first for GET HIP was produced by the great TIM KERR in a whirlwind 4 day session at Saxon Studios in Rochester, NY. While maintaining their signature sound, the band has pushed their own boundaries, experimenting with guitar layers, feedback, vocal techniques and time lengths, creating an album destined for greatness. Spread the word.
"The PRIESTS have a sound that positively oozes with snarling, back street toughness driven forward with an infectious, primitive beat. Some garage bands come up with one good song and repeat it over and over again. The PRIESTS avoid this trap by coming up with one great song after another." -Sean Barry/COOL AND STRANGE MUSIC
"This is what rock'n'roll is all about - noisy, angry guitars and a real classic rock and roll look. Can't wait for their next release." -John Holmstrom/PUNK MAGAZINE
Away In a Manger
The Priests Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweethead.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
And stay by my bedside till morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay,
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And lift us for heaven, to live with thee there.
The Priests' rendition of "Away In A Manger" is a beautiful and heart-warming version of the classic Christmas carol. The first verse paints a vivid picture of the humble nativity scene where the baby Jesus is lying in a manger, surrounded by animals and the stars shining above. The lyrics convey a sense of calm and peace as the newborn child sleeps soundly in the hay, showcasing the innocence and purity that is associated with his birth. The second verse is a prayer to Jesus, asking him to always stay near and watch over the children with his love and care. The final line is a touching plea for Jesus to lift us up to heaven, to live forever in his presence.
Line by Line Meaning
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus did not have a proper bed as he was born in a manger
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The baby Jesus slept peacefully in the manger
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The stars were shining brightly and looked down at where baby Jesus was sleeping
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
Baby Jesus was sleeping on a bed of hay
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
The sound of cattle lowing woke up the baby Jesus
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
The baby Jesus did not cry when he woke up
I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
The singer expresses their love for Jesus and asks him to look upon them from the sky
And stay by my bedside till morning is nigh.
The singer asks Jesus to stay with them until morning arrives
Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay,
The singer asks Jesus to be near them and stay with them
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
The singer prays for Jesus to remain close to them forever and to love them
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
The singer asks Jesus to bless all the children under his care
And lift us for heaven, to live with thee there.
The singer prays to be lifted to heaven to live with Jesus
Contributed by Evelyn O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.