McKennitt blends world-music with folk, Celtic and exotic Mediterranean sounds using instruments such as the hurdy gurdy, kanoun, uilleann pipes, Turkish clarinet, bouzouki and nyckelharpa alongside traditional instruments like guitar, drums and bass and the harp, piano and accordion, the three instruments she plays.
Born in Morden, Manitoba, Canada in February 17, 1957, Loreena moved to Stratford, Ontario, Canada in 1981, where she still resides. She has acted and sung in, and composed music for, Stratford Festival of Canada productions ranging from The Tempest (1982) to The Merchant Of Venice (2001).
Her recording career began in 1985 with the album Elemental. In the fledgling years of her label Quinlan Road, Loreena ran its operations from her kitchen table, selling recordings by mail order and producing her own concert tours across the country. Quinlan Road's catalogue is currently distributed around the world by Warner Music (US), Universal Music (Canada and other territories including Italy and Spain) and a number of independents including Keltia Music (France) and SPV (Germany).
Carrighfergus
Loreena McKennitt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only for nights in Ballygrant
I would swim over the deepest ocean
Only for nights in Ballygrant
But the sea is wide, and I can't swim over
Neither have I wings to fly
If I could find me a handsome boatsman
Now in Kilkenny, it is reported
They've marble stones there black as ink
With gold and silver I would transport her
But I'll sing no more now till I get a drink
I'm drunk today but I'm seldom sober
A handsome rover from town to town
Ah, but I am sick now, my days are over
Come all you young lads and lay me down
I wish I was in Carrighfergus
Only for nights in Ballygrant.
The lyrics of Loreena McKennitt's song, Carrighfergus, speak of a longing for a love that is far away. The singer wishes to be in Carrighfergus, a coastal town in Northern Ireland, but only for nights in Ballygrant, which may refer to a specific place or simply a desire to be with her love. She even declares that she would swim over the deepest ocean for a chance to be with her love. However, she acknowledges that the sea is too wide and she cannot swim over, nor does she have wings to fly.
The singer then expresses a wish to find a handsome boatsman to ferry her over to her love and die. She is willing to risk everything, even her life, just to be with the person she loves. In the next verse, the singer mentions Kilkenny where there are reports of marble stones that are black as ink, and with gold and silver, she would transport her love. However, she ends the verse by saying that she will not sing anymore until she gets a drink.
The final verse reveals the singer's state of being. She is drunk and seldom sober, wandering from town to town as a handsome rover. However, she acknowledges that her days are over, and she is sick. She calls on young lads to lay her down, indicating that she may be close to death, perhaps due to her reckless lifestyle or her deep longing for her love.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish I was in Carrighfergus
I deeply long to be in Carrighfergus
Only for nights in Ballygrant
Just temporarily, only for the nights in Ballygrant
I would swim over the deepest ocean
I would go to extreme lengths to get to where I want to be
But the sea is wide, and I can't swim over
But my desire is not enough to overcome the insurmountable obstacles in my path
Neither have I wings to fly
I am powerless, I cannot even fly
If I could find me a handsome boatsman
If I could only locate a skilled captain
To ferry me over to my love and die
To take me beyond this point of no return, to the one who captured my heart
Now in Kilkenny, it is reported
They say in Kilkenny
They've marble stones there black as ink
That they possess precious marble stones, deep in color like ink
With gold and silver I would transport her
If I could, I would use the finest metals to transport the one I adore
But I'll sing no more now till I get a drink
But for now, I'll hold off singing more until I have a drink
I'm drunk today but I'm seldom sober
I tend to be perpetually tipsy
A handsome rover from town to town
I roam handsomely from town to town
Ah, but I am sick now, my days are over
But now I am ill and my days are numbered
Come all you young lads and lay me down
So, all the young lads, I urge you to put me to rest
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Linda Baron
I've never heard this version, and the tears are rolling down my face! So beautiful! 💓
josé josiane
After all this years I still love that song! Cedric Smith voice is stunning, you feel the story as if you was there!
Mario Fromadistance
Such a deep and wonderful rendition of this classic Irish song beautifully sung along with Canada's Loreena McKennitt. 💚💜
Stig Nyman
This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Simple but o so wonderful, and what a voice!
B~8
My absolute favourite version of this song - LOVE IT 🤗😍🤗
sillygreekgirl24
I have fallen asleep to this song so many times growing up. So beautiful.
Adauto Cardoso
Música maravilhosa
Kingscrib
This version of Carrickfergus by Loreena McKennit, with vocals by Cedric Smith, is playing as the credits roll, at the end of the 1985 movie 'Bayo'. It's the perfect ending.
As the sun sets off the Newfoundland coastline, Bayo watches his grandfather walk out into the cold, north Altantic waters. Bayo imagines the old man walking on the water as he's always talked about doing. Bayo closes his eyes, and freezes the memory of his grandfather turning and smiling back at him. If you haven't seen the movie, from Canada's National Film Board, it's worth the watch.
josé josiane
tnx for the info! Wanne see that movie now!
Rod A. Paiva
Amo essa canção♥️