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
The Holly And The Ivy
The Priests Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown
O the rising of the sun and the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir
The holly bears a blossom as white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet Savior
O the rising of the sun and the running of the deer
The holly bears a berry as red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good
O the rising of the sun and the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir
The holly bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christmas Day in the morn
O the rising of the sun and the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir
The holly bears a bark as bitter as the gall
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ for to redeem us all
O the rising of the sun and the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir
"The Holly and the Ivy" is a traditional British Christmas carol that has been performed in countless versions over the years. The song talks about the symbolism of holly and ivy in relation to the birth of Jesus Christ. The first verse sings that the holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown, the holly bears the crown, suggesting the superiority of the holly in Christmas symbolism. The song then goes on to detail the various attributes of the holly, including its blossom, berry, prickle, and bark, and how they all relate to the birth of Jesus Christ and his purpose as the savior of all.
The second and third verses of the song focus primarily on the holly's blossom and berry, describing them respectively as white as a lily flower and red as any blood. The lyrics then relate these attributes back to Mary and the birth of Jesus, suggesting that the holly and the ivy were present at the birth of Christ. The fourth verse shifts the focus to the holly's prickle and uses them as a reminder of the pain and sacrifice associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.
Overall, "The Holly and the Ivy" is a beautiful and poetic expression of the deep symbolism that surrounds Christmas. The song weaves together the natural world and the Christian narrative in a way that is both descriptive and deeply moving.
Line by Line Meaning
The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown
When the holly and the ivy reach maturity
Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown
The holly is the most prominent and majestic tree in the woods
O the rising of the sun and the running of the deer
The joyful sights and sounds of nature, such as the sunrise and the deer running
The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir
The joyful music of the organ and choir singing
The holly bears a blossom as white as lily flower
The holly has a beautiful white flower similar to a lily
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet Savior
Mary gave birth to Jesus who became our Savior
The holly bears a berry as red as any blood
The holly produces bright red berries like blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good
Mary gave birth to Jesus who came to save sinners
The holly bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn
The holly has sharp thorns like any other thorny plant
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christmas Day in the morn
Mary gave birth to Jesus on Christmas morning
The holly bears a bark as bitter as the gall
The holly's bark has a bitter taste like gall
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ for to redeem us all
Mary gave birth to Jesus who came to redeem all of humanity
Contributed by Ava S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Janiel Albuquerque
Muito bom, parabéns pelos dons a serviço do Reino de Deus! Viva a Igreja de Cristo!
Synjen Sze
No way, I found Jo Brand's buzzer...