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
In a Lifetime
Clannad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or recognize a sign
To see me through
A warning sign
First the thunder
Satisfied, if the past it will not lie (then the storm, torn asunder )
The future you and I get blown away (in the storm) In a lifetime, in a lifetime
And as the rain it falls
We begin again (heavy in my heart)
As the storm breaks through (believe the light in you)
So the light shines in you
Without color, faded and worn
Torn asunder in the storm
Unless the sound can save your body and soul
Unless it disappears
Selfish storm (first the thunder)(then the storm)
Torn aside (one life)
In the storm
In a lifetime
In a lifetime
In a lifetime
In a lifetime
The song In A Lifetime by Clannad featuring Bono is a reflective piece that has been described as a celebration of love and life, told through the metaphor of a storm. It starts with the line "Hard to tell or recognize a sign, to see me through a warning sign", implying that it can be difficult to decipher the signs that warn of the approaching storm. The storm is used as a metaphor throughout the song, with the lyric "in the storm" repeated several times. The storm is a symbol of the trials and tribulations of life, but also of the passion and intensity of love.
The chorus of the song, "In a lifetime, in a lifetime" suggests that the storm can be weathered, but it is something that both parties need to work at, and ultimately, it is only temporary. The line "As the storm breaks through, so the light shines in you" represents the idea that adversity can bring out the best in people, and that even though it may be difficult, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The song continues with the verse "Without color, faded and worn, torn asunder in the storm" which suggests that the storm has taken its toll on the singers, but they haven't given up.
The bridge of the song, "Unless the sound can save your body and soul, unless it disappears" can be interpreted in a few ways. Some believe that it is a reference to the transformative power of music, while others interpret it as the idea that once the storm is over, it can be difficult to remember how bad it was. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, "In a lifetime, in a lifetime" which brings the song full circle, concluding that life is short, but love endures.
Line by Line Meaning
Hard to tell
It's difficult to decipher
Or recognize a sign
Or to identify a symbol or signal
To see me through
To guide me through this challenge
A warning sign
An indication of a potential danger
First the thunder
At first, there is thunder
Satisfied, if the past it will not lie
Satisfied, if the past is truthful
(then the storm, torn asunder )
Then the storm, forcefully separating something into pieces
The future you and I get blown away (in the storm)
Our future together is destroyed by this storm
In a lifetime, in a lifetime
Once in a lifetime
And as the rain it falls
And as the rain descends
We begin again (heavy in my heart)
We start anew, with a heavy feeling in my chest
As the storm breaks through (believe the light in you)
As the storm intensifies, believe in your internal strength
So the light shines in you
Thus, the ability to triumph illuminates inside of you
Without color, faded and worn
Colorless, dull and used
Torn asunder in the storm
Forcefully separated during the storm
Unless the sound can save your body and soul
Unless a noise can redeem both your physical and spiritual person
Unless it disappears
Unless it vanishes
Selfish storm (first the thunder)(then the storm)
This storm is narcissistic; beginning with thunder and proceeding to greater destructive efforts
Torn aside (one life)
Ripped apart (a single life)
In a lifetime
Once in a lifetime
In a lifetime
Once in a lifetime
In a lifetime
Once in a lifetime
In a lifetime
Once in a lifetime
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CIARAN MARION BRENNAN, PAUL HUGH BRENNAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@franciscobuendiadelmolino
Hard to tell or recognize a sign
To see me through a warning sign
First the thunder satisfied, if the past it will not lie (then the storm)
The future (torn asunder) you and I, get blown away (in the storm)
(In a lifetime)
(In a lifetime)
And as the rain it falls (we begin again) heavy in my heart
As the storm breaks through (believe the light in you) so the light shines in you
Without color, faded and worn
Torn asunder in the storm
Unless the sound can save your body and soul
Unless it disappears
Selfish storms, oh, the mystery (first the thunder, then the storm)
Torn aside (one life) in the storm
In a lifetime
In a lifetime
In a lifetime
In a lifetime
@Ronnie1001
A little off topic from Moya and Bono… I was listening to the B52’s song “Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland” the other day, and it crossed my mind that if the rest of U2 had done a song with the rest of the sisters at that time, it might have sounded a lot like that.
But then I noticed that at 1m52s in the B52s’ official greenscreen video, the face of Cindy’s brother and band founder member Ricky appears in the rising moon as a memorial to him after his sudden early-30’s death, and it reminded me of what I hated about the 50th anniversary version of the “In a Lifetime” song, namely that Uncle Padraig was airbrushed out as if he had never existed and there was no credit given to all the other family members who had helped so much over the 50 years either. Even Uncle Noel was permanently hidden behind Moya’s harp apart from less than a second.
Leon could have been in the background holding a toolbox, an accounts book and some merch, with Dee and Bridi (holding her solo album?) and even Baba (holding a photo of Leo?) without whom none of it would have happened.
And that’s without the elephant in the room of Enya: when I saw the lone figure in black walking up the hill I was instantly happy that they were all back together again for the 50th! but it turned out to be some random African who (regardless of her nice voice) hasn’t been seen again with them. Clannad always said they weren’t political, but it seemed to me they’d managed to make a warped version of the Hourglass song: “Four Grey Walls That Were Built To Last” and “Just Because Her Skin Was Brown”.
At least Moya’s recent solo song prominently and repeatedly featured a photo of Leon as a memorial.
@galwaytribesman9289
Music can be very hypnotizing and it can put you in places in your mind. This is one of those hypnotizing songs. It is ethereal.
@NickWard-f6l
1986 i was 20 years old when this came out .Takes me right back 😊
@lynnalexander9674
So was I
@jayWalk8
I was 21 ❤
@aerochicc
I've said it a million times, but this song is pure magic. ❤💓💕
@T.2.S.A-27
and magic is a sin.
@marcodoom661
Bono’s all time best vocal punch
@peterjenkins7488
One of the most beautiful songs ever written. The vocals are amazing.
@amandadempsey4475
This performance shows bonos voice at it absolute best. The control and range really stand out on this track.
@NavyCopMA1
In A Lifetime... The song that, so many years ago, got this American to fall in love with your music and genre... Cheers!