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",
Strength
Iona Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strength of the rain, soaking into the ground
Strength of a fish, swimming against the flow
Strength of the sun, melting the winter snow
Like the strength of a flower, pushing up through the earth
Like the strength of the rain, soaking into the ground
Like the strength of a fish, swimming against the flow
Like the strength of a bird, flying into the wind
Like the strength of the wind, lifting the desert sand
Like the strength of the tide, shaping the rocks and land
Like the strength of the ice, carving the mountainside
How wonderful this world
A fragment of a fiery sun
How wonderful this life
How fragile and how bold
Like the strength of a man who fights for his family
Like the strength of a friend who carries you when you're weak
Like the strength of the heart, bearing the pain of birth
Like the strength of the love, healing the sons of earth
How wonderful this world
A fragment of a fiery sun
How wonderful this life
How fragile and how bold
Like the strength of a man who fights for his family
Like the strength of a friend who carries you when you're weak
Like the strength of the heart, bearing the pain of birth
Like the strength of the love, healing the sons
Healing the sons of earth
The song "Strength" by Iona celebrates the different types of strength found in nature, humans, and relationships. The lyrics compare the strength of a flower, rain, fish, sun, bird, wind, tide, and ice to human strength, such as fighting for family, carrying a friend, enduring the pain of childbirth, and the healing power of love. The chorus emphasizes how wonderful and fragile life is and how bold one must be to face it. The song acknowledges that strength comes in many forms, even those that may seem small or gentle, like a flower pushing through the earth.
The use of natural imagery throughout the song emphasizes the connection between humans and nature, highlighting that we are all part of something bigger. The strength found in nature provides a source of inspiration for human strength, reminding us that even the smallest and seemingly weakest creatures can demonstrate remarkable strength. Inversely, human strength can also contribute to the strength of nature, as seen in the image of the sun melting the winter snow, thawing the earth and allowing new life to grow.
Beyond celebrating the different types of strength, the song also speaks to the interconnectedness of all beings. The line, "Like the strength of the love, healing the sons of earth" suggests that love can transcend species, implying that healing oneself and others in turn can heal the planet. Therefore, the song emphasizes a message of persevering through hard times and finding strength in oneself and others to overcome challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Strength of a flower, pushing up through the earth
The power exhibited by a flower growing out of the ground
Strength of the rain, soaking into the ground
The force demonstrated by the rainwater penetrating the soil
Strength of a fish, swimming against the flow
The energy displayed by a fish swimming upstream
Strength of the sun, melting the winter snow
The might shown by the sun melting the snow
Like the strength of a flower, pushing up through the earth
Similar to the power exhibited by a flower growing out of the ground
Like the strength of the rain, soaking into the ground
Similar to the force demonstrated by the rainwater penetrating the soil
Like the strength of a fish, swimming against the flow
Similar to the energy displayed by a fish swimming upstream
Like the strength of the sun, melting the winter snow
Similar to the might shown by the sun melting the snow
Like the strength of a bird, flying into the wind
Comparable to the power shown by a bird flying against the wind
Like the strength of the wind, lifting the desert sand
Comparable to the force demonstrated by the wind lifting the sand in a desert
Like the strength of the tide, shaping the rocks and land
Comparable to the energy displayed by the tide forming the rocks and land
Like the strength of the ice, carving the mountainside
Similar to the might exhibited by the ice carving the mountainside
How wonderful this world
This world is amazing
A fragment of a fiery sun
It is a tiny part of a massive sun
How wonderful this life
This life is fantastic
How fragile and how bold
It is both delicate and courageous
Like the strength of a man who fights for his family
Comparable to the power exhibited by a man fighting for his family
Like the strength of a friend who carries you when you're weak
Similar to the energy displayed by a friend who supports you when you are vulnerable
Like the strength of the heart, bearing the pain of birth
Comparable to the might shown by a heart enduring the pain of childbirth
Like the strength of the love, healing the sons of earth
Similar to the power exhibited by love in healing people on the planet
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID BAINBRIDGE, FRANK VAN ESSEN, JOANNE HEATHER HOGG, PHIL BARKER, TROY DONOCKLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alyson Kelly
on Revelation
Revelation
by Iona
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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