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).
Good King Wenceslas
Loreena McKennitt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the Feast of Stephen
When the snow lay 'round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."
"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine-logs hither
Thou and I shall see him dine
When we bear them thither."
Page and monarch, forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather.
"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, good my page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shall find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."
In his master's step he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye, who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.
The song Good King Wenceslas by Loreena McKennitt tells the story of a kind and generous king who is celebrated for his compassion towards the poor. Good King Wenceslas's attention is drawn to a poor man struggling to gather fuel in the snow, and he calls upon a page to assist him in delivering food and provisions to the man. Together, they brave the unforgiving weather conditions to ensure that the poor man does not go hungry. Along the way, the page becomes exhausted and doubts his ability to continue, but Good King Wenceslas encourages him to follow in his footsteps and persevere. The lyrics conclude with the message that by being kind to the less fortunate, we will ultimately find blessings in our own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Good King Wenceslas looked out
The king, named Wenceslas, looked outside.
On the Feast of Stephen
It was the day after Christmas.
When the snow lay 'round about
Deep and crisp and even
It was snowing a lot and everything was blanketed in deep, crisp snow.
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
The moon was bright, but it was very cold.
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel
A poor man was spotted gathering firewood.
"Hither, page, and stand by me,
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
The king asked his assistant to come and help him identify the man and where he lives.
"Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."
The assistant informed the king that the man lives far away, underneath a mountain, close to a forest and by a fountain dedicated to Saint Agnes.
"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine-logs hither
Thou and I shall see him dine
When we bear them thither."
The king requested his assistant to bring food, wine and wood so that they could give it to the man and enjoy a meal together with him.
Page and monarch, forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather.
The king and his assistant went together, battling the strong wind and cold weather.
"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how
I can go no longer."
The assistant was scared and tired, and confessed to the king that he couldn't go any further due to the dark and cold conditions.
"Mark my footsteps, good my page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shall find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."
The king gave the assistant advice to follow his footsteps and be brave, as he would feel less cold and scared that way.
In his master's step he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
The assistant followed the king's footsteps and found warmth in the snow that the Saint had walked on before.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye, who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.
As a conclusion, the song states that those who possess wealth or rank and help the poor will themselves be blessed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Bluewater Music Corp.
Written by: DP, JEREMY FREDERICK LANNING, JOHN M. NEALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind