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",
Inside My Heart
Iona Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never forcing me to choose
Bringing Your perfect light
Into this sunless room ... of mine
So make Your home inside my heart
Fill this empty house of stone
Make Your home inside my heart
Of Your throne
Of Your throne
Looking through stained windows
I see a rose on the wall
Thorns that draw blood
From Your face
I hear the agony of Your call
... to me
In the stillness of moonlight
I am awakened by Your grace
And the love that glistens
In the tears on Your face ... for me
The lyrics to Iona's song "Inside My Heart" speak of the moment when a person realizes the presence of a divine figure in their life. The arrival of this figure, which is not explicitly named, is described as peaceful and unobtrusive. The figure is said to bring light to a dark and uninspiring room, representing the singer's heart or inner world. The singer invites this figure to continue to dwell within their heart and to fill its emptiness with its perfect light.
The second verse of the song speaks of the singer's recognition of the suffering that this divine figure has endured. They see a rose with thorns on the wall, likely a symbol of Jesus and the crown of thorns he wore during his crucifixion. The "agony" of the figure's call to the singer is interpreted as a reminder of the sacrifice that this divine being has made for their salvation. The presence of the divine figure is described as awakening the singer to the "stillness of moonlight" and filling them with a sense of grace and love.
Overall, the song speaks of the personal experience of encountering spirituality or divinity in one's own life. The singer is moved by the presence of this divine figure, and they invite it to dwell within their heart and transform their life from one of darkness to one of light and beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
Quietly You arrived
God came into my life without forcing me to choose Him.
Never forcing me to choose
God did not force me to choose Him, but rather offered Himself to me.
Bringing Your perfect light
God brings His perfect light to my life to guide me.
Into this sunless room ... of mine
God brings His light into the dark places in my life.
So make Your home inside my heart
I invite God to reside in my heart.
Fill this empty house of stone
I ask God to fill the emptiness in my heart.
Let me dance in the brightness
I want to rejoice in God's presence.
Of Your throne
In the glory of God's presence.
Looking through stained windows
I see my life through a distorted lens.
I see a rose on the wall
I see the beauty of God within the walls of my heart.
Thorns that draw blood
I recognize the pain that Jesus endured for me in His death on the cross.
From Your face
Jesus' face was marred by the suffering He endured for me.
I hear the agony of Your call
Jesus' call to me bears the weight of His agony and sacrifice.
In the stillness of moonlight
God speaks to me in the quiet moments of my life.
I am awakened by Your grace
God's grace brings life to my heart.
And the love that glistens
God's love shines brilliantly within me.
In the tears on Your face ... for me
Jesus weeps for me, knowing fully the depth of His love and sacrifice for me.
Contributed by Peyton W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Peter Alvin
Meditate on the lyrics on this Sunday morning.
IF YOU DON'T GET GOOSEBUMPS AT 4'19" YOU'RE DEAD.
One of the best guitar solos of all-time!!!
Iona was my favorite band in the mid-90s.
It's because of Iona that I'm not familiar with much popular radio music of the 90s. It just didn't compare with this band.
She has the voice of an angel!
Love the harmonics on the guitar.
I've almost blown out my speakers playing the studio version of this too loud on my stereo!
pennyeshua
Quietly You arrived
Never forcing me to choose
Bringing Your perfect light
Into this sunless room ... of mine
So make Your home inside my heart
Fill this empty house of stone
Make Your home inside my heart
Let me dance in the brightness
Of Your throne
Of Your throne
Looking through stained windows
I see a rose on the wall
Thorns that draw blood
From Your face
I hear the agony of Your call
... to me
So make Your home inside my heart
Fill this empty house of stone
Make Your home inside my heart
Let me dance in the brightness
Of Your throne
In the stillness of moonlight
I am awakened by Your grace
And the love that glistens
In the tears on Your face ... for me
Isabelle - Louisa Treyborac
Quietly You arrived
Never forcing me to choose
Bringing Your perfect light
Into this sunless room ... of mine
So make Your home inside my heart
Fill this empty house of stone
Make Your home inside my heart
Let me dance in the brightness
Of Your throne
Of Your throne
Looking through stained windows
I see a rose on the wall
Thorns that draw blood
From Your face
I hear the agony of Your call
... to me
In the stillness of moonlight
I am awakened by Your grace
And the love that glistens
In the tears on Your face ... for me
Donna M. A. Harrington
This song is on the CD called "Journey Into The Morn" and my CD is worn out from playing so many times! Its AWESOME!!!!!! Her voice is so beautiful and every musician in this band is incredible. BIG fan of Iona!
Marc Moingeon
I fully agree. I discovered them in 95 with the album you mentioned, that I just loved right from the start. Joanne has the voice of an angel and Dave Bainbridge is a genius.. Frank van Essen is a great drummer but also a very fine violin player... They are all great musicians, anyway... and composed fantastic music.. I do miss them a lot.
Márcio pinto
Donna Marie Albano Harrington very spiritual
kareninflorida
And Joanne's voice still sounds as pure and fresh and clear as it did over 20 years ago! I don't know how she does it, nor do I know how his fingers still fly over those guitar strings as easily as they did 20 years ago. LOL They are truly amazing.
Paul Trussy
Iona. One of the best and most elusive progressive bands of all time. Make Your home inside my heart ✝️
Peter Alvin
Meditate on the lyrics on this Sunday morning.
IF YOU DON'T GET GOOSEBUMPS AT 4'19" YOU'RE DEAD.
One of the best guitar solos of all-time!!!
Iona was my favorite band in the mid-90s.
It's because of Iona that I'm not familiar with much popular radio music of the 90s. It just didn't compare with this band.
She has the voice of an angel!
Love the harmonics on the guitar.
I've almost blown out my speakers playing the studio version of this too loud on my stereo!
thoragena
Dave Bainbridge! Woot, woot!
John Baxter
'Inside my Heart' is one of my all-time favorite iona tracks... indeed one of my all-time favorites by any band. This is the first time I ever had the pleasure of seeing them perform it live. Awesome song - a Christian love song which combines Joanne's lovely voice with the incredible skill and musicianship of the band. The guitar solo is absolutely amazing on the album, and it was so great to be able to see this as well as listen. Iona you ROCK!!!. Bravo and Brava!!!!
EGlideKid
I love Iona. Been listening to them for almost 30 years now and still they bring tears to my eyes. Every member is incredible, and they all have a chance to stand out just about every song. What a wonderful singer Joanne is, and Dave on guitars is on par with anyone in the world.
John Baxter
This is my lifetime favorite video by my lifetime favorite band. A Love Song to the Lord. Sheer, passionate genius! Thank you Lord for IONA...