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",
Saviour
Iona Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What in the world are we doing?
What kind of world is evolving now?
One that maybe won't last much longer.
A weary planet, so much sickness and decay
Hell-holes on earth and souls that lose their way.....
Oh, we need a saviour
Oh God, let salvation come.
But there are places of beauty
Where the sick are healed
What seemed impossible is happening
Where Your glory is revealed
Where there's redemption and mercy
Places of safety for those who are afraid
For, oh we have a saviour
Yes, we have a saviour
Oh God, let Your kingdom come......
Oh, we have a saviour
Yes, we have a saviour
Oh God, let Your kingdom come
The lyrics of Iona's song Saviour express a sense of urgency and concern about the state of the world. The first set of lyrics pose a series of questions about the current state of the world, highlighting the negative aspects of it - sickness, decay, and souls losing their way. The second set of lyrics provide a glimmer of hope, as they mention places of beauty where people are healed, and where God's glory is revealed. These places offer redemption, mercy and safety to those who are afraid.
Overall, the message of the song is clear - the world needs a saviour, and this saviour can only come from God. It calls upon God to bring salvation and to bring His kingdom, which is seen as a place of goodness, beauty and hope. The song is a reminder that while there is much darkness in the world, there are also sources of light and hope, and that ultimately, God is the one who can bring redemption and healing to the world.
Line by Line Meaning
What in the world is happening?
Questioning the current state of the world and the events taking place
What in the world are we doing?
Asking what we as humans are contributing to the state of the world
What kind of world is evolving now?
Wondering and uncertain about the direction the world is moving towards
One that maybe won't last much longer.
The world is possibly heading towards its end
A weary planet, so much sickness and decay
The world is tired and struggling with many illnesses and deterioration
Hell-holes on earth and souls that lose their way.....
There are many places and people in the world that are experiencing great suffering and losing their sense of direction
Oh, we need a saviour
Expressing the need for a divine figure to rescue and redeem the world
Yes, we need a saviour
Reiterating the fact that humanity needs a saviour
Oh God, let salvation come.
A prayer or plea for salvation to come and save the world
But there are places of beauty
Acknowledging that there are still moments of beauty and goodness in the world
Where the sick are healed
Describing places where hope still exists and healing occurs
What seemed impossible is happening
Noting that miracles and unlikely occurrences are still taking place
Where Your glory is revealed
Referring to places where God's presence and power is evident
Where there's redemption and mercy
Describing places where forgiveness and compassion exists
Places of safety for those who are afraid
Identifying havens for those who are scared and in need of protection
For, oh we have a saviour
Believing and declaring that there is a divine figure who can save the world
Oh God, let Your kingdom come......
A plea for God's rule and reign to come and bring peace and justice
Yes, we have a saviour
Reinforcing the belief that there is a saviour who can rescue the world
Oh God, let Your kingdom come
Reasserting the prayer for God's kingdom to come and reign in the world
Contributed by Zoe P. 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