Clannad, whose name is taken from an Clann as Dobhar meaning the family from Dore, was formed by the Brennan family in 1970. Máire, Ciarán and Pól Brennan joined uncles Noel and Pádraig Duggan and began performing in their father Leo's tavern. Máire's sister, Enya, joined the band in 1979 and left three years later to pursue a successful solo career. Máire has also enjoyed a simultaneous career as a solo singer, starting with her 1992 album entitled Máire, and recently altered the spelling of her name to Moya Brennan.
Harry's Game, the group's theme song for a television thriller, prominently featured in the film Patriot Games, was also used in a commercial for Volkswagen in 1992, and won Clannad newfound popularity in the United States. Another hit was the 1985 song In a Lifetime with Bono of U2. Their song, I Will Find You, is part of the soundtrack for the 1992 film The Last of the Mohicans.
The mega-selling album Lore (1996) also gave some thought to the Native American Indians. On Trail Of Tears Noel Duggan imagined how it felt to be exiled from your ancestral land. He was also thinking about these people and their connection with the Irish. How for instance, these distant American cousins had sent money to Ireland during the potato famine of the Nineteenth Century.
Their Grammy in 1999, (their third nomination) was in recognition for the Landmarks (1998) record, which was once again sited in the heartland of Donegal, shaped by the mountains, the glens and the sea-lashed shores of Gweedore. In Of This Land Moya sings about Ireland, of its past and of its future. The track Fadó translates as "Long Ago", which once again demonstrates the influence of old Celtic history on Clannad's music.
In 2003, Clannad released the best of album, In A Lifetime, which is one of their biggest selling albums to date.
Clannad have gone from strength to strength, and from their early days have created a massive fan base. The youngest of the siblings, Moya's (Máire's) sister and goddaughter is the musician Brídín Brennan.
In 2008, Clannad again began touring, beginning with a UK tour in March. Clannad's Noel Duggan in March 2008 released the band's official biography, 'Moments in a Lifetime', which includes many unseen photographs, and the band's latest (15th) compilation 'Celtic Themes' was released a few days later.
In June 2009, Clannad was nominated for an IMA Award in the category Best Revival Act.
Their album Nádúr (their first new album since the release of Landmarks in 1997) was released worldwide in September 2013.
In 2019, Clannad embarked on their In a Lifetime farewell tour, but it was postponed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new compilation album entitled, In a Lifetime (which included two new tracks), was released.
Discography
* 1972 — The Pretty Maid (Clannad)
* 1974 — Clannad 2
* 1976 — Dúlamán
* 1978 — Clannad in Concert [live]
* 1979 — Ring Of Gold [live, unofficial bootleg]
* 1980 — Crann Úll
* 1982 — Fuaim
* 1983 — Magical Ring
* 1984 — Legend [soundtrack]
* 1985 — Macalla
* 1987 — Sirius
* 1987 — The Collection [collection]
* 1988 — Atlantic Realm [soundtrack]
* 1989 — Pastpresent [collection]
* 1989 — The Angel and the Soldier Boy [soundtrack]
* 1992 — Anam
* 1993 — Banba
* 1995 — Lore
* 1995 — Themes [collection]
* 1997 — Landmarks
* 1997 — Rogha: The Best of Clannad [collection]
* 1998 — An Diolaim [collection]
* 2003 — The Best of Clannad: In A Lifetime [collection]
* 2005 — Clannad - Live In Concert, 1996 [live]
* Nádúr (2013)
Official website: www.clannad.ie
Northern Skyline: www.clannad.org.uk
Alasdair MacColla
Clannad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I stole my mind, and found I care
Running on the morning tide
Something you would say to me
We drank the waters of delight
We played the games of wrong and right
Did we understand
Oh, long dreaming, find my tears
I could love you, all the years
There are times like today
The wind will blow in a gentle way
Mark it down in frozen glass
Lied to me that I could win
So many ways to share a love
With words and touch we promised much
Do we understand
The footsteps in the sand
Ooh, I believe, I believe too easily
Ooh, I believe, I believe too easily
Ooh, long dreaming find my tears
I could love you, all the years
Here I stand still the same
I guess this showcase changed the name
Hard to know who plays the fool
Never looking back on years
I wonder now witch way to face
I catch a vision of this place
Did we understand
Those footsteps in the sand
The song "Alasdair MacColla" by Clannad is a poignant reflection about the journey of life, the choices we make, and the consequences that follow. In the first verse, the singer talks about broken pieces being everywhere, a metaphor for the upheavals and challenges that life throws our way. The line "I stole my mind and found I care" is a powerful admission that introspection and self-discovery have made her realize the value of caring for herself and others. The reference to "running on the morning tide" illustrates how we all have to keep moving forward and endure the ebb and flow of life's highs and lows. The last line of the verse "something you would say to me" indicates that the singer is seeking guidance or assurance from someone.
The second verse speaks about the pleasures and pains of life, "drinking the waters of delight" and "playing the games of wrong and right." The singer questions whether we truly grasp the significance of our actions or whether they are just fleeting "footsteps in the sand". The chorus is a lament, with the singer admitting to believing too easily and hoping that her tears may one day find a long-dreamt-of solution.
The final verse reflects on the passage of time and the uncertainty that comes with it. The singer is unsure whether the path she has chosen is the right one, and looks back on life's events with both nostalgia and regret. The closing line "those footsteps in the sand" is a poignant reminder that everything we do and everyone we meet leaves a mark on our journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Broken pieces everywhere
The past is scattered and shattered, leaving behind remnants of what once was.
I stole my mind, and found I care
I detached myself from my emotions, but in doing so, discovered that I still have meaningful feelings.
Running on the morning tide
Going along with the natural flow of life, without force or resistance.
Something you would say to me
A message or lesson that someone imparted to me.
We drank the waters of delight
We savored life's pleasures and indulged in what brought us joy.
We played the games of wrong and right
We navigated the choices between morality and immorality.
Did we understand
Did we comprehend the true implications and consequences of our actions?
They're just footsteps in the sand
The marks we leave behind, while significant to us, will ultimately be erased and forgotten over time.
Oh, long dreaming, find my tears
In my imagination and memory, I am overcome with emotion.
I could love you, all the years
My capacity for love and devotion is vast and enduring.
There are times like today
Occasions arise when I am reminded of a past experience or feeling.
The wind will blow in a gentle way
Nature can be soft and comforting, as well as powerful and destructive.
Mark it down in frozen glass
Preserve this moment of clarity and understanding, so it does not fade away.
Lied to me that I could win
I was deceived into thinking I had control over a situation, when in reality, the outcome was predetermined.
So many ways to share a love
Love can be expressed in countless ways, through words, touch, and actions.
With words and touch we promised much
We made grand declarations of love and commitment to each other.
Do we understand
Did we truly comprehend the weight and significance of the promises we made?
The footsteps in the sand
Our actions and decisions will leave behind lasting effects, both positive and negative.
Ooh, I believe, I believe too easily
I am trusting and gullible, willing to accept things at face value without questioning their veracity.
Here I stand still the same
Despite the passage of time and the changes in my surroundings, I remain fundamentally unchanged.
I guess this showcase changed the name
The outward appearance of things can be altered, but their essence remains constant.
Hard to know who plays the fool
It can be difficult to discern who is truly wise and who is merely pretending to be.
Never looking back on years
I refuse to dwell on the regrets and mistakes of the past, preferring to focus on the present and future.
I wonder now which way to face
I am unsure of which direction to take or what path to follow.
I catch a vision of this place
I glimpse a possible future, or a memory of a cherished past moment.
Did we understand
Did we grasp the full meaning and significance of our experiences and actions?
Those footsteps in the sand
Our choices and decisions echo beyond ourselves, and continue to ripple out into the world long after we are gone.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DP, CIARAN MARION BRENNAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind