She started working as a junior doctor in the Belfast Hospital, but in 1988 she was invited to form a band with Dave Fitzgerald and Dave Bainbridge. In 1989, Joanne stopped practicing medicine and Iona was born. Since then, Joanna has sung all over Europe and America. Iona's recordings have become successful worldwide, making them Europe's best selling contemporary Christian band.
Hogg recorded her first solo album, Looking Into Light, in 1999. Her vocals were featured in the role-playing games Xenogears (for the Sony PlayStation) and Xenosaga (for the Sony PlayStation 2). She sang the English versions of Star of Tears and Small Two of Pieces from Xenogears, and Pain and Kokoro from Xenosaga. Star of Tears was featured on the 2-disc Xenogears: Original Soundtrack; however, the song is not normally accessible in the game. Hogg collaborated with several artists for the album New Irish Hymns and provided the female vocals on both solo releases from Troy Donockley.
Above The Storm
Joanne Hogg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And tossed out on the ocean
Where you weren't meant to be
Long nights without a moment's rest
Waves beat upon your chest
And you struggle just to breathe
But don't give up
Love that will not let you go
There's a home waiting for you
Caught by the storm that took your song
And threw you out upon the waves
To a place you don't belong
There is a rock that you can cling to
Where you can open out your wing
To fly above the storm
So don't give up
Help is closer than you know
Love that will not let you go
There's a home waiting for you
Help is closer than you know
Love that will not let you go
Help is closer than you know
Love that will not let you go
In Joanne Hogg's song "Above the Storm," a metaphorical songbird has fallen from its tree and is lost at sea in the midst of a challenging storm. The lyrics speak to the struggles that we all face in life, where we feel like we are in a place where we don't belong, facing harsh and relentless conditions that threaten to toss us around and cause us to lose our breath. However, amidst this chaos, the song reminds us that we are not alone and that there is hope.
The lines "Don't give up, help is closer than you know, love that will not let you go" express a message of comfort and support, reminding us that even when we feel isolated and helpless, there is always someone or something ready to help us through the storm. Additionally, the song speaks to the idea of clinging to a rock, which can be seen as symbolic of holding onto a strong foundation or support system in the midst of hardship.
Overall, "Above the Storm" encourages listeners to persist through life's difficulties and to remember that, even in the most challenging of times, there is always hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Songbird, fallen from your tree
You have fallen from your safe place, your comfort zone.
And tossed out on the ocean
And as a result, you are now tossed around by the sea of life with no direction.
Where you weren't meant to be
Somewhere you weren't meant to be, in a state of confusion and uncertainty.
Long nights without a moment's rest
Nights that never end, without a single moment of rest, caught in the stormy turbulence of your life.
Waves beat upon your chest
The troubles of life are beating you down, making you feel suffocated.
And you struggle just to breathe
You are barely hanging on, gasping for breath, struggling through each and every moment.
But don't give up
But don't lose hope, things will get better.
Help is closer than you know
Don't give up yet, there is help around you.
Love that will not let you go
A force of love surrounds you, holding on to you even when you feel like giving up.
There's a home waiting for you
There is a safe haven, a place of peace waiting for you to find.
Caught by the storm that took your song
The storm of life has taken away your spirit, leaving you feeling defeated.
And threw you out upon the waves
And as a result, you are now tossed around by the sea of life with no direction.
To a place you don't belong
Somewhere you weren't meant to be, in a state of confusion and uncertainty.
There is a rock that you can cling to
There is a solid foundation that you can rely on, to hold on to, that will give you stability.
Where you can open out your wing
A place where you can spread out your wings and fly, a place of freedom.
To fly above the storm
To rise above the chaos, to overcome the difficulties.
Help is closer than you know
Don't give up yet, there is help around you.
Love that will not let you go
A force of love surrounds you, holding on to you even when you feel like giving up.
Help is closer than you know
Don't give up yet, there is help around you.
Love that will not let you go
A force of love surrounds you, holding on to you even when you feel like giving up.
Contributed by Alice V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fuyufuyu
on Stars of Tears - Xenogears
I am from Japan, and this is the most heart moving and surprisingly nice music I heard at the end of last century. Thank you for this celestial gem of music!