Original guitarist Beverly Barrington replaced Annah in 2007 and Jason McMaster (Watchtower, Dangerous Toys) replaced Erika on vocals in 2008. The band will release a new album called "The Spider Queen" in September 2009.
Hymn of Erin
Ignitor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Soon our emerald fields will run with blood, echo with pain
We defend our shores, in the face of unfair odds
Giving honor with our deaths to the ancient gods
Will your eyes be the last thing I see?
Morrigan, bring us to glory!
Rise! Against the tide!
Man and bride, proud warriors so bright
And your smile will follow me through death
Together with our mothers,
Sisters, husbands, fathers, brothers, sons
We go into battle as one
Behind twin bronze shields we she'd our blood upon our rings of gold
Our motal lives fading to ghosts of old
Will your eyes be the last thing I see?
Morrigan, bring us to glory!
Rise! Against the tide!
Man and bride, proud warriors so bright
Fight for the Isle
And your smile will follow me through death
This dire morn
We soaked the ground a bloody red
Fianna born
Fionn mac Cumhail, lead us all
The ancient Irish dead
Will your eyes be the last thing I see?
Morrigan, bring us to glory!
Rise! Against the tide!
Man and bride, proud warriors so bright
Fight for the Isle
And your smile will follow me through death
The lyrics of Ignitor's song "Hymn of Erin" evoke the image of a bloody battle for Ireland between its defenders and invaders, glorifying death and martyrdom in the face of apparently impossible odds. The opening verses present a setting where the "crimson dawn" signals the arrival of a last day, as the country's green fields are soon to be soaked with blood and filled with cries of pain. Despite this grim situation, the Irish warriors stand their ground, disregarding the unevenness of the fight, and instead proudly embrace the prospect of dying for their land and the ancient gods.
The chorus of the song explicitly calls upon the Morrigan, a goddess of Irish mythology associated with fate, war, and death. The Morrigan is invoked as a force that can lead the Irish warriors to glory, even as they fight against a tide of enemy forces. The following stanzas emphasize the unity of the Irish people ("we go into battle as one"), underscoring how they set aside their differences and personal lives to join the fight. The image of the twin bronze shields, and the rings of gold that the warriors wear, exemplifies the value placed by the Irish on honor, community, and sacrifice.
Overall, "Hymn of Erin" portrays an epic struggle for survival and the defense of traditions and beliefs. It transforms a historical event into a mythic narrative that honors a nation's legacy and inspires future generations. The lyrics convey a deep sense of reverence for the past and the willingness to die for a cause greater than oneself, making it a powerful and emotive song that resonates with people who value courage, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Line by Line Meaning
In the crimson dawn, we wake to greet the final day
As dawn breaks, we rise to face the last battle.
Soon our emerald fields will run with blood, echo with pain
Our lush green lands will soon be stained with blood and resound with cries of agony.
We defend our shores, in the face of unfair odds
Against overwhelming odds, we protect our land from invaders.
Giving honor with our deaths to the ancient gods
We honor the old gods by laying down our lives in this sacred war.
Will your eyes be the last thing I see?
As we go to battle, we may never see each other again.
Morrigan, bring us to glory!
We pray to the goddess of war for victory and honor.
Rise! Against the tide!
We fight courageously despite the odds against us.
Man and bride, proud warriors so bright
Together, men and women fight valiantly as brave warriors.
Fight for the Isle
We fight for our beloved homeland, Ireland.
And your smile will follow me through death
Even in death, the memory of our loved ones will give us strength and comfort.
Together with our mothers, Sisters, husbands, fathers, brothers, sons
All of us- young and old, male and female- are united in this sacred battle.
We go into battle as one
We fight as a unified force, each of us willing to die for the greater good.
Behind twin bronze shields we she'd our blood upon our rings of gold
Using our bronze shields to protect ourselves, we shed our blood in this battle, perhaps for the sake of the gold rings we wear.
Our motal lives fading to ghosts of old
In facing death, we know that our mortal lives will become tales of the past, maybe remembered only as legends.
This dire morn We soaked the ground a bloody red
This grave morning, we have stained the earth with our blood.
Fianna born Fionn mac Cumhail, lead us all The ancient Irish dead
The legendary warrior Fionn mac Cumhail leads us into battle, with the spirits of ancient Irish heroes among us.
Contributed by Alaina G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.