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).
Come by the Hills
Loreena McKennitt Lyrics
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Where fancy is free
And stand where the peaks meet the sky
And the rocks reach the sea
Where the rivers run clear and the bracken
Is gold in the sun
And cares of tomorrow must wait
'Til this day is done.
Come by the hills to the land
Where life is a song
And sing while the birds fill the air
With their joy all day long
Where the trees sway in time, and even
The wind sings in tune.
Come by the hills to the land
where legend remains
Where stories of old stir the heart
and may yet come again
Where the past has been lost and the future
is still to be won
And cares of tomorrow must wait
till this day is done.
Come by the hills to the land
Where fancy is free
And stand where the peaks meet the sky
And the rocks reach the sea
Where the rivers run clear and the bracken
Is gold in the sun
And cares of tomorrow must wait
till this day is done.
“Come by the Hills” by Loreena McKennitt is a song that invites us to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enter a world where we can be free from our cares and worries. The opening lines “Come by the hills to the land / Where fancy is free” suggest that the song is about a place where imagination and fantasy can run wild without restraint. The lyrics go on to describe a world where nature reigns supreme – “Where the rivers run clear and the bracken / Is gold in the sun” - and where the ancient stories of legend and lore still hold sway – “Where stories of old stir the heart / and may yet come again”.
The second stanza continues this idyllic picture of a world where “life is a song” and the birds sing “with their joy all day long”. The trees move in time to the music and even the wind seems to be singing along. Taken together, the song paints a picture of a world where we can forget our troubles and be free to just be ourselves, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the magic of old stories.
Overall, “Come by the Hills” is a song that invites us to dream, to forget the worries of everyday life and enter a world where we can be free to be ourselves. It reminds us of the beauty of nature and the power of imagination, and encourages us to hold onto these precious things as we navigate the challenges of daily life.
Line by Line Meaning
Come by the hills to the land
Join me in visiting a place of refuge and escape from the norms of society.
Where fancy is free
Where imagination and creativity are unhampered, with no boundaries.
And stand where the peaks meet the sky
Experience the breathtaking grandeur of mountains piercing the clouds.
And the rocks reach the sea
Observe the majestically rugged terrain where land and water meet.
Where the rivers run clear and the bracken
Is gold in the sun
Behold the serene beauty of crystal-like streams and the dazzling brightness of golden ferns under the sun.
And cares of tomorrow must wait
'Til this day is done.
Leave worries of the future at bay and immerse oneself in the moment until this day is over.
Where life is a song
A place where life's rhythm is melodious and harmonious.
And sing while the birds fill the air
With their joy all day long
Join nature's symphony by singing along with the joyful songs of birds that lasts throughout the day.
Where the trees sway in time, and even
The wind sings in tune.
Where even the wind blowing through trees has a rhythm, and it's all in tune with the melody of life.
Where legend remains
Where stories of old stir the heart
and may yet come again
A land where the mythical and the ancient still resonate, and these tales touch the hearts and might even come back to life.
Where the past has been lost and the future
is still to be won
A place where history is gone and the future still remains unpredictable and uncertain.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Written by: W GORDON SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind