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
White Fool
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
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 tribe land
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 tribe land
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 lyrics to Clannad's "White Fool" speak to the lasting impact of colonization on indigenous cultures. The opening lines, "The wheels of the world keep on turning / It's inevitable," suggest a sense of resignation to the passage of time and the cyclical nature of history. The following lines introduce the theme of corruption and theft, with "the corrupt people of this world keep on stealing / Yet, they don't care." The phrase "white fool" is used to refer to the colonizers who have come to a "new land," which was never the same again. Throughout the song, the imagery of land and wind is used to convey a sense of ancient, enduring power that is being stripped away by greed and violence.
The chorus repeats the opening lines of the song, highlighting the inevitability of change and destruction. The final verse emphasizes the ongoing struggle between colonizers and the colonized, with "the corrupt people of this world keep on fighting / Yet, they don't care." The phrase "white fool" is repeated, underscoring the idea that colonization was a foolish and destructive enterprise that forever altered the course of history.
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
Someone inexperienced has come to a new place
There's a dark moon on the sand
The atmosphere is unsettling
Then nothing was ever the same again
The arrival has brought significant change
This land is in their hands
The new arrival has taken control of the land
A thousand years of tribe land
The land has been owned by the tribes for a long time
Strong winds carry the pulse
The natural rhythms of the land are powerful
Greed and lust it stripped the earth bare
Desire for wealth has destroyed the environment
When the white fool came to a new land
The inexperienced arrival caused problems
Cries of an anthem
A rallying call for a cause
Craite
Disturbed, upset
Of fury and unrest
Anger and dissatisfaction
Tuirseach
Exhausted, tired
Fix your eyes to the sound
Pay attention to what's going on
Of the horizon
The future
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, GREG S. LADANYI, MOYA BRENNAN, PAUL HUGH BRENNAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sannee63
You can really hear Steve!! I put on headphones and turned it up and that angelic voice of Steve Perry cuts through! Love it!
@squyres
You can hear Steve's beautiful voice !! Great song !! Peace/Love
@PERRYTheBestofJRNY
Woooow Perry sister Thank you for share with me this amazing song i never heard before,,, Steve Perry is awesome and is the King.
@Enquiringmind777
This song has been going around in my head all day. I'm English with Irish ancestry. Funny thing is that when I visited Ireland back in the 80s I had this sense of belonging to this place, that I had been there before in a distant time. I have never felt that in any other country I have visited.
@Mandosami
its such a powerfully grounding sensation. I can relate. In New Zealand, where I now live, the Maori here introduce themselves and their identity as being connected to their regional mountain where they are from alongside their more immediate and distant relatives. Since living in here I've come to hanker after my own land (England) in away that speaks of a yearning that is conjured in the sentiment you expressed in your connection to Ireland. It took me moving to NZ to recognise that. Now with the arrival of COVID I wonder when I'll be back in my homeland again.
@Mandosami
I had this tune going around my head staring out at the sunset over the sea out to Ireland from the Boscastle cliffs in Cornwall...still trying to get in touch with why!
@jim7862
Steve Perry from Journey, on backing vocals.......AWESOME.......!!!!!!
@donnasalak3436
I LOVED THIS SONG STEVE PERRY SINGS BACK ROUND AND IN GALIC LOVE YOU STEVE I CAN HEAR YOU
@terrilleed8196
Definitely can identify Steve Perry's voice...🍀💚
@morningsnoopy
great song with the brill steve perry on backing vocals x