Marrakesh Night Market
Divers / Loreena McKennitt Lyrics
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The lamps light their faces
The crescent moon rocks in the sky
The poets of drumming
Keep heartbeats suspended
The smoke swirls up and then it dies
Would you like my mask?
Cries the man in the shadowing hood
You can look at yourself
You can look at each other
Or you can look at the face of your god
The stories are woven
And fortunes are told
The truth is measured by the weight of your gold
The magic lies scattered
On rugs on the ground
Faith is conjured in the night market's sound
Would you like my mask?
Would you like my mirror?
Cries the man in the shadowing hood
You can look at yourself
You can look at each other
Or you can look at the face of your god
The lessons are written
On parchments of paper
They're carried by horse from the river Nile
Says the shadowy voice
In the firelight, the cobra
Is casting the flame a winsome smile
Would you like my mask?
Would you like my mirror?
Cries the man in the shadowing hood
You can look at yourself
You can look at each other
Or you can look at the face of your god
The song "Marrakesh Night Market" by Loreena McKennitt perfectly captures the alluring atmosphere of a bustling street market in Morocco. The opening lines paint a picture of a group of people gathered in a circle, surrounded by flickering lamps, with the crescent moon above. The "poets of drumming" keep the beat echoing in the air, while smoke from incense fills the space.
The second verse introduces a mysterious figure in a hood, offering his mask and mirror to those in attendance. This is likely a nod to the idea of self-discovery and introspection that can be found in Moroccan Sufism. The reference to looking at the face of one's God suggests the idea of seeking truth and enlightenment, a common theme in Islamic mysticism.
The final verse mentions the transporting of lessons on parchments of paper from the river Nile, which likely speaks to the deep history and cultural exchange between Morocco and Egypt. The shadowy voice suggests that the cobra, a symbol of power and danger in Moroccan culture, is casting a smile in the firelight, reminding listeners that amid the intrigue and magic of the night market, there is always an element of danger.
Overall, the lyrics of "Marrakesh Night Market" are full of beautiful imagery and cultural references that pull the listener into the vibrant world of Morocco.
Line by Line Meaning
They're gathered in circles
Groups of people have congregated together in circular formations
The lamps light their faces
The light given off by the lamps illuminates the faces of the people in the circle
The crescent moon rocks in the sky
The crescent moon can be seen moving through the sky above
The poets of drumming
The musicians playing the drums, who are skilled in their art
Keep heartbeats suspended
Their music causes the audience's heartbeats to seemingly pause in anticipation
The smoke swirls up and then it dies
Smoke rises into the air and eventually dissipates
Would you like my mask?
Do you desire to wear the mask that I possess?
Would you like my mirror?
Would you like to look at yourself through my mirror?
Cries the man in the shadowing hood
Says the person wrapped in a cloak, who is hiding in the shadows
You can look at yourself
By using the mirror, you are able to see your own reflection
You can look at each other
You can use the mirror to view others in the area
Or you can look at the face of your god
Alternatively, you can gaze into the mask and see the face of your deity
The stories are woven
Tales are being told in an intricate and poetic form
And fortunes are told
People are making predictions about the future for others
The truth is measured by the weight of your gold
In this market, the amount of wealth one has dictates their perceived level of truthfulness
The magic lies scattered
Magical items are spread out across the ground for viewing
On rugs on the ground
These items are presented on rugs placed on the floor
Faith is conjured in the night market's sound
The atmosphere of the night market inspires feelings of devotion and spirituality
The lessons are written
Words of wisdom have been recorded on paper
On parchments of paper
These teachings are etched onto high-quality, ancient sheets of paper
They're carried by horse from the river Nile
These precious documents are transported by horse from the Nile river
Says the shadowy voice
The voice of a hidden figure
In the firelight, the cobra
By the light of the fire, a cobra is present in the area
Is casting the flame a winsome smile
The snake's expression in the flickering light is charming and beguiling
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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