As an atheist I am always open to religious music that sounds good. Yet, often some of the most awful music sells only because it is religious. Then there is the religious music, which is so truly beautiful, that I can quite empathize with those among the faithful engaged in its trance; those, who wouldn't give that up for anything in the world.
Today I had a different experience. I came across this track, 'Baba Yetu' by Christopher Tin (You can stream it from Tin's samples page, first track). I heard it first as Civilization 4's theme, and have loved it ever since. The lyrics seemed like something in an Afrikaan's dialect and the vocals were hauntingly beautiful. Today, I thought I'd dig up some info on the composer and the song's lyrics.
While I assumed it to be a song that was supposed to mean something profound, I wanted to find out what these lyrics actually meant:
Baba yetu, yetu uliye
Mbinguni yetu, yetu, amina!
Baba yetu, yetu, uliye
Jina lako litukuzwe.
Utupe leo chakula chetu
Tunachohitaji utusamehe
Makosa yetu, hey!
Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe
Waliotukosea usitutie
Katika majaribu, lakini
Utuokoe, na yule, milelea milele!
Ufalme wako ufike utakalo
Lifanyike duniani kama mbinguni. (Amina)
Utupe leo chakula chetu
Tunachohitaji utusamehe
Makosa yetu, hey!
Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe
Waliotukosea usitutie
Katika majaribu, lakini
Utuokoe, na yule, simama mwehu
Baba yetu, yetu, uliye
Jina lako litukuzwe.
And my! What a revelation, it was. I was in for a shock as I found the translation from here.
Its one thing for an atheist listening to music forewarned of its religious underpinnings. Its quite another for him to love a piece of music so much and listen to it enough number of times to memorise its lyrics, only to realise that all this time, as he was singing along, he was chanting, oh horror, 'the Lord's' prayer!
I don't think I'd go so far as to call this a spiritual experience, but it was certainly a humbling one. I love this song even more for it.
Then again, I found that the Church choirs were quick to start using this beautiful song to 'draw more of their lost sheep back into their fold'. Music is probably the most enchanting tool that religion uses to have its way. Of course, when that fails, there are always the suicide bombers and the Republicans.
3 comments:
lol.. id love to see the translation also.. mm yea i agree with that part abt some 'religious music' being so enchanting that u realise wat fun the 'believers' truly experience wen they hear it.. 'faith' might just be another frame of mind, but its a 'high' all the same sometimes..
and yes, some aweful music also sells just because it fools people into thinking they might be.. er.. i dont know.. washing away their sins or something listening to it..
got a link to the song ? and lol @ suicide bombers and republicans :)
yea checked out the translation.. saw it soon after i commented.. now it looks totally understandable..
Nice blog RC .. but i cud'nt help noticing one thing .. I read quite a few posts and all of them fall into either of two specific categories .. A dig at something or a rant ..
This post is the only one where you've had the heart to appreciate something :) Not without a scorn .. but still.. Maybe I'l find more when i read further ..
Post a Comment