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.
River of Tears
Joanne Hogg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's no defence for it.
A big hole in the street, where tears and flowers meet.
Another spear has turned,
And now the blame has burned
a scar into this land. Is there a bridge that we can span
This river of tears?
And so the children learn the history of the fight.
Who to love and hate, each believing they are right.
And so the innocent so often pay the price,
iving life in fear, is there a way that we can clear
This river of tears?
This river of tears . . . . .
I come to You God with my questions, burning in me like a pain.
How can I come to You and rest, when all the world's in such a mess?
And in the absence of an answer I can feel this burden lifting,
Taking with it all my fears, you wash me in the river of my tears.
This river of tears . . . . .
This river of tears . . . . .
"River of Tears" by Joanne Hogg is a beautiful and soulful song that speaks about the pain and suffering caused by conflicts and wars. The lyrics convey deep emotion and convey a strong message about the need for peace and understanding. The opening lines of the song - "There is no sense in it. There's no defence for it. A big hole in the street, where tears and flowers meet." - clearly illustrate the senselessness of war and the destruction and pain it causes. The following line, "Another spear has turned, and now the blame has burned a scar into this land," portrays the bitterness and resentment that grows when conflicts arise.
The chorus of the song - "Is there a bridge that we can span this river of tears?" - is a poignant plea for healing and unity. It speaks to the hope that people can come together to find common ground and work towards peace. The second verse of the song highlights the toll that war takes on innocent bystanders, particularly children. It speaks to the need for empathy and understanding, and the importance of teaching future generations to choose love over hate.
The final verse of the song is a personal plea to God for understanding and peace. The lines - "How can I come to You and rest when all the world's in such a mess? And in the absence of an answer, I can feel this burden lifting, taking with it all my fears, you wash me in the river of my tears" - are a testament to the healing power of faith and the hope that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
There is no sense in it.
It doesn't make logical or practical sense.
There's no defence for it.
It can't be justified or defended.
A big hole in the street, where tears and flowers meet.
A place where people mourn and grieve.
Another spear has turned,
Another conflict has arisen.
And now the blame has burned
And now people are blaming each other.
a scar into this land.
Leaving a lasting impact or harm on the community.
Is there a bridge that we can span
Is there a way to overcome our differences and find common ground.
This river of tears?
This ongoing cycle of pain and suffering.
And so the children learn the history of the fight.
Children are taught about the conflict and its history.
Who to love and hate, each believing they are right.
They are taught to take sides and that their side is the right one.
And so the innocent so often pay the price,
Innocent people are often the ones who suffer the most.
iving life in fear, is there a way that we can clear
Living in constant fear, is there a way to alleviate it.
This river of tears?
This ongoing cycle of pain and suffering.
I come to You God with my questions, burning in me like a pain.
The singer prays to God with their deep, painful questions.
How can I come to You and rest, when all the world's in such a mess?
They question how they can find peace when the world is so chaotic.
And in the absence of an answer I can feel this burden lifting,
Even without an answer, the artist feels some relief from the weight of their questions.
Taking with it all my fears, you wash me in the river of my tears.
God's comfort and peace wash away the artist's fears and pain.
This river of tears.
This ongoing cycle of pain and suffering.
This river of tears . . . . .
This image is repeated to emphasize the ongoing nature of the cycle.
Contributed by Muhammad B. 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!