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
Voyager
Clannad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nil imeacht uaidh go deo
Daoine corr an t'saoil ag goid leo
Ni cuma leo go foill
(the wheels of the world keep on turning
It's inevitable
The corrupt people of this world keep on stealing
Yet, they don't care)
White fool come to a new land
There's a dark moon on the sand
Then nothing was ever the same again
This land is in their hands
A thousand years of tribeland
Strong winds carry the pulse
Greed and lust it stripped the earth bare
When the white fool came to a new land
Cries of an anthem-
Craite
Of fury and unrest-
Tuirseach
Fix your eyes to the sound-
Eist leo
Of the horizon
Rothai an t'saoil ag casadh leo
Nil imeacht uaidh go deo
Daoine corr an t'saoil ag troid leo
Ni cuma leo go foill
(the wheels of the world keep on turning
Its inevitable
The corrupt people of this world keep on fighting
Yet, they don't care)
White fool come to a new land
There's a dark moon on the sand
Then nothing was ever the same again
This land is in their hands
A thousand years of tribeland
Strong winds carry the pulse
Greed and lust it stripped the earth bare
When the white fool came to a new land
The three tribesman
Bhi'os acu
Are a t sean doigh
Eist leo
The song "Voyager" by Clannad speaks to the inevitability of change and how society is always moving forward, with the wheels of the world constantly turning. It describes how people who are corrupt and greedy always seem to steal and fight their way to the top, with disregard for those around them. The term "white fool come to a new land" could be interpreted as European colonialism, with its dark and painful history. The dark moon on the sand could represent bloodshed and violence that results from the arrival of these outsiders. The song suggests that everything changed when this happened; a thousand years of tribeland and its culture were wiped away by the new forces.
The lyrics do not specifically mention the pain of the native people or their loss of identity, but suggest it through the expression of unrest and fury. The song reflects on the past and mourns the destruction that has taken place. It asks people to listen to the cries of the past, to acknowledge what happened and maybe learn from it. "Eist leo" means "listen to them", as if the song is pleading for people to pay attention.
Overall, "Voyager" is a song that speaks to larger truths about the human condition, where change is inevitable, and there will always be those who seek to take advantage of it for their own gain, often at the expense of others. It warns of the dangers of greed, and asks us to listen to the past in order to understand the present better.
Line by Line Meaning
Rothai an t'saoil ag casadh leo
The wheels of the world keep on turning
Nil imeacht uaidh go deo
It's inevitable
Daoine corr an t'saoil ag goid leo
The corrupt people of this world keep on stealing
Ni cuma leo go foill
Yet, they don't care
White fool come to a new land
A new land was discovered by a naive explorer
There's a dark moon on the sand
A symbol of bad omens
Then nothing was ever the same again
The discovery of a new land changed everything
This land is in their hands
They took control over the new land
A thousand years of tribeland
The land was inhabited by different tribes for thousands of years
Strong winds carry the pulse
The wind is a metaphor for the rhythm of life
Greed and lust it stripped the earth bare
The desire for material possessions caused destruction
When the white fool came to a new land
The arrival of the white explorer caused irreversible change
Cries of an anthem-
Loud and passionate singing of a patriotic song
Craite
Distressed
Of fury and unrest-
Angry and turbulent emotions
Tuirseach
Exhausted
Fix your eyes to the sound-
Pay attention to the signal of change
Eist leo
Listen to them
Daoine corr an t'saoil ag troid leo
The corrupt people of this world keep on fighting
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CIARAN MARION BRENNAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind