They are contemporaries of fellow Celtic artists Enya and Clannad; however, Iona's works are also influenced heavily by jazz-fusion, prog-rock and ancient Christian themes.
For Iona's 1990 debut album, the band added: drummer Terl Bryant, bassist Nick Beggs (former bassist of Kajagoogoo) and several studio musicians -- Fiona Davidson (Celtic harp), Peter Whitfield (strings), Troy Donockley (Uillean pipes) and Frank Van Essen (tuned percussion). The self-titled album received very little press, even in their home country, though a Dutch network compiled a documentary based on Iona, the band and the island.
Two years later, Iona returned with "Book of Kells", and the album was praised by North American critics
as well as those of the British Isles. David Fitzgerald left in 1992 to pursue a degree in music and, as a result, Iona lost much of its jazz influences by the following year's Beyond These Shores. The group made up for Fitzgerald's absence, however, by inviting Robert Fripp to guest on the album. Both albums also featured former Kajagoogoo bassist/stickist Nick Beggs. A contract with England's Alliance Music led to "Journey into the Morn"; the album was released in 1996 in the U.S. and Canada, and was listed among the top five folk albums in Q Magazine's Year End Review. "Heaven's Bright Sun", a live album, came the following year, then "Woven Cord" in 2000, and "Open Sky" in 2001.
Their latest release, new to 2007, is called "The Circling Hour".
iona has been a Leipzig, Germany based postrock-band from 2005-2010 that now reemerges as The Yuki Rush. https://ionanoise.bandcamp.com/album/a-noise
There is also a Romanian experimental / hip hop band who also go by the name "Iona",
Bi-Se I Mo Shuil
Iona Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A Ri mhor na nduil
Lion thusa mo bheatha
Mo cheadfai's mo stuaim
Bi thusa i m'aigne
Gach oiche's gach la
Im chodladh no im dhuiseacht
Lion me le do gra
Bi thusa mo threoru
I mbriathar is i mbeart
Fan thusa go deo liom is
Coinnigh me ceart
Glac curam mar athair
Is eist le mo ghui
Is tabhair domsa ait conai
Istigh i do chroi
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
Be my eyes, O king of creation
Fill my life with understanding
And patience
Will You be my mind every night
And every day
Sleeping or awake
Fill me with Your love
Will You be my guidance
In my words and actions
Stay with me forever
And keep me on the right path
As my Father take care of me
And listen to my prayers
And give me a place
To live inside Your heart)
The lyrics of Iona's song Bi-Se I Mo Shuil are a plea to the Almighty to guide the singer through life. The opening line, "Bi-se i mo shuil, A Ri mhor na nduil," translates to "Be in my eyes, O king of creation." The singer begs the Lord to be her life force, to fill her with love and understanding. She asks the Lord to reside in her mind day and night, to lead her in her words and actions. The singer acknowledges that the Lord is the Father figure who takes care of her, listens to her, and gives her a place to reside inside His heart.
The song emphasizes the importance of a strong relationship with the Creator. The lyrics are an acknowledgement of the Lord's presence in all aspects of the singer's life. The singer seeks guidance, understanding, patience, and love from the Lord, recognizing that she cannot make it through life without Him. The song exudes a sense of humility and gratitude towards the Almighty.
Line by Line Meaning
Bi-se i mo shuil
O king of creation, be my eyes
A Ri mhor na nduil
Fill my life with understanding and patience
Lion thusa mo bheatha
Be the one who sustains my life
Mo cheadfai's mo stuaim
Grant me permission and give me peace
Bi thusa i m'aigne
Be in my mind
Gach oiche's gach la
Every night and every day
Im chodladh no im dhuiseacht
Whether I am sleeping or awake
Lion me le do gra
Fill me with Your love
Bi thusa mo threoru
Be my guidance
I mbriathar is i mbeart
In my words and actions
Fan thusa go deo liom is
Stay with me forever
Coinnigh me ceart
And keep me on the right path
Glac curam mar athair
As my Father take care of me
Is eist le mo ghui
And listen to my prayers
Is tabhair domsa ait conai
And give me a place to live
Istigh i do chroi
Inside Your heart
Contributed by Michael L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alyson Kelly
on Revelation
Revelation
by Iona
____________________________________________________
Waiting for the Spirit of Truth to tell
Power on Earth to stand in the face of hell
Waiting for the sky to clear
Waiting for the Son to appear
Waiting to see you
Waiting to hear you
Waiting for vision
To see your, your
Revelation
Learning the purifying flame
Regeneration after the growing pain
Longing for the words to flow
Longing for the world to know
Waiting to see you
Waiting to hear you
Waiting for vision
To see your, your
Revelation
Waiting to see you
Waiting to hear you
Waiting for vision
To see your, your
Revelation
Waiting to see you
Waiting to hear you
Waiting for vision
To see your, your
Revelation
Waiting to see you
Waiting to hear you
Waiting for vision
To see your, your, your, your
Revelation