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",
When I Survey
Iona Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nor mans empty praise
Be Thou mine inheritance
Now and always
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ, my Lord
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to His blood
See from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
The lyrics of Iona's "When I Survey" speak about the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and the acceptance of this sacrifice by the faithful. The first stanza talks about how the faithful should not be concerned about the accumulation of material possessions or the accolades of people. Instead, they should focus on Christ, who is their inheritance forever. The second stanza describes the wonder of the cross and how it was the place where the Prince of Glory died. The faithful recognize that all their earthly possessions mean nothing in the face of the love and sacrifice of Christ. The third stanza refers to the vanity of boasting about worldly things and how everything that used to charm them no longer holds any value in the light of the blood of Christ. Finally, the fourth stanza talks about the epic nature of Christ's love and how it surpasses anything in this world.
The song essentially calls on the faithful to honor Christ and the ultimate sacrifice that he made for humankind by approaching life with humility and acknowledging that no earthly possessions or achievements can compare to the gift of salvation. The song is a reminder to let go of pride and worldly possessions in exchange for a life that honors God.
Line by Line Meaning
Riches I heed not
I do not value wealth
Nor mans empty praise
I do not care for hollow compliments from people
Be Thou mine inheritance
God should be my ultimate goal and reward
Now and always
For all time
When I survey the wondrous cross
When I contemplate the extraordinary cross of Christ
On which the Prince of Glory died
Where the Son of God breathed His last
My richest gain I count but loss
I consider anything else I may gain to be less valuable
And pour contempt on all my pride
I reject vanity and humbly submit to God
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
Oh Lord, forbid me to brag
Save in the death of Christ, my Lord
Except in the death of my Lord Jesus Christ
All the vain things that charm me most
All the superficial things that attract me the most
I sacrifice them to His blood
I offer them up as a sacrifice in recognition of His sacrifice
See from His head, His hands, His feet
Observe the injuries to his head, hands, and feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Grief and love combine and spill over
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
Has there ever been such a meeting of love and sorrow
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Or has a crown of thorns ever been so glorious
Were the whole realm of nature mine
If I owned the entire physical world
That were an offering far too small
That would still be an insufficient gift
Love so amazing, so divine
Love that is astonishing and divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
Requires my soul, my life – everything I have
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music
Written by: Isaac Watts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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