McKennitt blends world-music with folk, Celtic and exotic Mediterranean sounds using instruments such as the hurdy gurdy, kanoun, uilleann pipes, Turkish clarinet, bouzouki and nyckelharpa alongside traditional instruments like guitar, drums and bass and the harp, piano and accordion, the three instruments she plays.
Born in Morden, Manitoba, Canada in February 17, 1957, Loreena moved to Stratford, Ontario, Canada in 1981, where she still resides. She has acted and sung in, and composed music for, Stratford Festival of Canada productions ranging from The Tempest (1982) to The Merchant Of Venice (2001).
Her recording career began in 1985 with the album Elemental. In the fledgling years of her label Quinlan Road, Loreena ran its operations from her kitchen table, selling recordings by mail order and producing her own concert tours across the country. Quinlan Road's catalogue is currently distributed around the world by Warner Music (US), Universal Music (Canada and other territories including Italy and Spain) and a number of independents including Keltia Music (France) and SPV (Germany).
The Mystic's Dream
Loreena McKennitt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hangs upon the crescent moon
A voiceless song in an ageless light
Sings at the coming dawn
Birds in flight are calling there
Where the heart moves the stones
It's there that my heart is calling
All for, for the love of you
A painting hangs on an ivy wall
Nestled in the emerald moss
The eyes declare a truce of trust
And then it draws me far away
Where deep in the desert twilight
Sand melts in pools of the sky
When darkness lays her crimson cloak
Your lamps will call me home
And so it's there my homage's due
Clutched by the still of the night
And now I feel you move
And every breath, breath is full
So it's there my homage's due
Clutched by the still of the night
Even the distance feels so near
All for, for the love of you
A clouded dream on an earthly night
Hangs upon the crescent moon
A voiceless song in an ageless light
Sings at the coming dawn
Birds in flight are calling there
Where the heart moves the stones
It's there that my heart is longing for
All for, for the love of you
Loreena McKennitt's The Mystic's Dream is a song that has a mystical and dreamlike quality to it, evoking a sense of yearning and longing for love that transcends time and space. The song begins with the image of a clouded dream hanging on an earthly night and a voiceless song singing at the coming dawn, suggesting a spiritual or otherworldly dimension that is beyond human comprehension. This dream-like imagery sets the tone for the rest of the song, which explores the idea of love as a force that can unite people across distances and time.
As the song progresses, we are introduced to different images and symbols that evoke a sense of mystery and enchantment. For example, the painting that hangs on an ivy wall and draws the singer far away suggests a portal to a different realm, while the deep desert twilight where sand melts in pools of the sky and darkness lays her crimson cloak hints at the magical and transformative powers of nature. Through all these images, the singer's heart is calling out for the one they love, and even the distance between them feels close and intimate.
Taken as a whole, The Mystic's Dream is a haunting and evocative song that captures the universal human longing for connection and love that transcends time and space. It is a song that speaks to the deepest parts of our souls, reminding us that even in the midst of uncertainty and darkness, love can bring us home.
Line by Line Meaning
A clouded dream on an earthly night
A hazy vision on a regular night
Hangs upon the crescent moon
Lingers by the crescent-shaped moon
A voiceless song in an ageless light
A soundless melody in an eternal brightness
Sings at the coming dawn
Serenades at the approaching sunrise
Birds in flight are calling there
Flying birds are summoning there
Where the heart moves the stones
Where emotions make the rocks budge
It's there that my heart is calling
It's that place where my heart desires to be
All for the love of you
Everything for the sake of love
A painting hangs on an ivy wall
An artwork is suspended on a leafy wall
Nestled in the emerald moss
Ensconced in the green moss
The eyes declare a truce of trust
The eyes proclaim a treaty of faith
And then it draws me far away
And then it transports me to a distant place
Where deep in the desert twilight
Where in the midst of the desert twilight
Sand melts in pools of the sky
Sand blends into the sky's pools
When darkness lays her crimson cloak
When darkness envelops everything in redness
Your lamps will call me home
Your luminaries will beckon me back
And so it's there my homage's due
And so it's there where I should pay my respect
Clutched by the still of the night
Embraced by the calmness of the night
And now I feel you move
And now I sense your motion
Every breath is full
Each breath is complete
Even the distance feels so near
Even the separation seems so close
All for the love of you
Everything for the sake of love
A clouded dream on an earthly night
A hazy vision on a regular night
Hangs upon the crescent moon
Lingers by the crescent-shaped moon
A voiceless song in an ageless light
A soundless melody in an eternal brightness
Sings at the coming dawn
Serenades at the approaching sunrise
Birds in flight are calling there
Flying birds are summoning there
Where the heart moves the stones
Where emotions make the rocks budge
It's there that my heart is calling
It's that place where my heart desires to be
All for the love of you
Everything for the sake of love
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Loreena Mckennitt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind