Camino music/songs

[Brian E]

After my first Camino I found I liked to kind of zone out once in awhile with music or if I needed some extra energy or motivation. Always looking for good 'camino' songs if anyone has suggestions. I just added Thick as Thieves by Natalie Merchant to the song list for next year. Wonderful song and great lyrics which also included the following:

"Pilgrims march to Compestela, visions of their saint in yellow. All follow, deep in trance, all lost in a catatonic dance. Know no future, damn the past: blind, warm, ecstatic, safe at last."

 

[Bob P]

I only used recorded music to clear my head of songs running in my brain. Two songs stuck in my head repeatedly. "On the road again" and "You shoulda seen it in color". I had to use recorded music just to drive those out of my head occasionally.

 

[OTH86]

Hola @Brian E ! My Camino playlist has a lot of the music from the 15 part video series Radio Buen Camino that Gunnar Walgraeve put together about 7 years ago. See

You may need to search a bit on vimeo for all 15 parts, but they are worth it!
Also on my Camino playlist is some of the music from the movie The Way.
Enjoy!

 

[Valarie Milazzo]

Love this topic! I have something like 70 songs on my Camino playlist. All are songs I find to be upbeat, uplifting, or both. These really help motivate me during training. The most unusual track may be “Ready to Sing” by Seela, which includes these lyrics:

A mustard seed goes through the motions
wash your feet and get undressed
A pretty day to be a pilgrim, a pretty day to be a mess

 

[Brian E]

Love this topic! I have something like 70 songs on my Camino playlist. All are songs I find to be upbeat, uplifting, or both. These really help motivate me during training. The most unusual track may be “Ready to Sing” by Seela, which includes these lyrics:

A mustard seed goes through the motions
wash your feet and get undressed
A pretty day to be a pilgrim, a pretty day to be a mess

Yeah, there are clearly tons of great and uplifting songs but I really enjoy the ones that specifically reference the Camino and/or pilgrims.

 

[OTH86]

...but I really enjoy the ones that specifically reference the Camino and/or pilgrims.

A couple of CDs:
Camino de Santiago by José Manuel Gonzales Duran
Camino de Santiago - Musik der Pulgerstraße (Jacobsweg)

When you're in Santiago, visit the shop in San Martin Pinario. They may have CDs you're looking for. I found the above two there.

 

[Turga]

And of course "To Be a Pilgrim":

To Be a Pilgrim

He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.

Who so beset him round with dismal stories
Do but themselves confound – his strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight,
He will make good his right to be a pilgrim.

Since, Lord, Thou dost defend us with Thy Spirit,
We know we at the end, shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away! I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labor night and day to be a pilgrim.

Words by John Bunyan, 1684 (as modified by Percy Dearmer for the 1906 “English Hymnal”)

 

[musicman]

“One More Cup of Coffee Before I Go....to the Valley Below” Roger McGuin and Calexico.
“ Heavy Load” - Free.
And many,many more ....

 

[SabsP]

This older thread might give some inspiration.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/music-on-the-camino.37189/#post-356513

 

[Former member 49149]

And of course "To Be a Pilgrim":

To Be a Pilgrim

He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.

Who so beset him round with dismal stories
Do but themselves confound – his strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight,
He will make good his right to be a pilgrim.

Since, Lord, Thou dost defend us with Thy Spirit,
We know we at the end, shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away! I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labor night and day to be a pilgrim.

Words by John Bunyan, 1684 (as modified by Percy Dearmer for the 1906 “English Hymnal”)

I had to look this up because I loved her voice...

 

[James Borden]

King Crimson.In the court of the crimson king.

 

[Michael Gray]

There is a large and beautiful trove of medieval music directly associated with the Camino, performed by early music specialists. Among my favourites are two albums “Camino de Santiago” by the Studio der Fruhen Musik, directed by Thomas Binkley; an album “Un Camino de Santiago” by Ensemble La Fenice , directed by Jean Tubéry with Arianna Savall; and an album “Miracles of Sant’Iago” by Anonymous 4. Then there are dozens of recordings of selections from the “Cantigas de Santa Maria”. Many of the Cantigas are associated with the Camino. Favourite albums include those by: Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, directed by Thomas Binkley; La Capella Reial de Catalunya and Hespèrion XX, directed by Jordi Savall; and Capilla Musical y Escolanía de Sta Cruz del Valle de los Caídos, directed by Jose Luis de Olza. And finally, the “Llibre Vermell de Montserrat”, by Hespèrion XX directed by Jordi Savall is a masterpiece of medieval music and performance. If you have not heard this music before, you are in for a delightful discovery. Much of it is available on iTunes and no doubt other online services. Just search under Camino de Santiago, Cantigas de Santa Maria, and Llibre Vermell.

 

[pilgrimjonas]

Songs or tracks I would consider the soundtrack of my caminos aren't necessarily camino-related in terms of origin or lyrics. I assume we all have these very specific tracks that take part of us back there whenever we listen to them. "Indosesta" by galician band "Berrogüetto" reminds me of starting the walk in the dark, breathing early morning air and slowly watching the world wake up again. Man, I love these mornings..

Here's a Link:

 

[SLO Pilgrim]

 

[Davey Boyd]

Miley Cyrus 'The Climb'. For those tough moments!

 

[notion900]

Caminante no hay camino, se hace camino al andar - walker there is no way, you make the way by walking

Lyrics come from a classic of Spanish poetry.
Translation http://gwenglish.blogspot.com/2014/04/poem-of-day-antonio-machados-caminante.html