The Sky And The Earth

Album: Right Here (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Although the elder sister of Bic Runga is every inch a Western rock musician, she has never forgotten her heritage. The three Runga sisters - Boh, Pearl and Bic - are the daughters of a Chinese mother and a Maori father. This song is based on the myth of Ranginui and Papatuanuku, or in English, Father Sky and Mother Earth. The original names are sometimes shortened to Rangi and Papa.

    Although the Maoris were extremely isolated, such myths are universal. The Maori version is rather complicated, but the Sky and the Earth are pushed apart never to be reunited again.

    Bo herself wrote: "Love the idea of a love never-ending and of a want that will never fade. I'm especially proud of the way the choruses describe the way they feel about each other." She adds: "It's a sad song but also has something anthemic and positive in it which I very much like."

    If she had been as vain as she is talented, she might have added that it is quite beautiful. She didn't, and it is. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete BlondeSongwriter Interviews

The singer/bassist for Concrete Blonde talks about how her songs come from clairvoyance, and takes us through the making of their hit "Joey."

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Timothy B. Schmit

Timothy B. SchmitSongwriter Interviews

The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.