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).
Skellig
Loreena McKennitt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The daylight has almost gone
The birds have sung their last
The bells call all to mass
Sit here by my side
For the night is very long
There's something I must tell
I joined the brotherhood my books were all to me
I scribed the words of God
And much of history
Many a year was I
Perched out upon the sea
The waves would wash my tears
The wind, my memory
I'd hear the ocean breathe
Exhale upon the shore
I knew the tempest's blood
Its wrath I would endure
And so the years went by
Within my rocky cell
With only a mouse or bird
My friends I loved them well
And so it came to pass
I'd come here to Romani
And many a year it took
'Till I arrived here with thee
On dusty roads I walked
And over mountains high
Through rivers running deep
Beneath the endless sky
Beneath these jasmine flowers
Amidst these cypress trees
I give you now my books
And all their mysteries
Now take the hourglass
And turn it on its head
For when the sands are still
'Tis then you'll find me dead
O light the candle, John
The daylight is almost gone
The birds have sung their last
The bells call all to mass
The person speaking in the song Skellig is an elderly monk who is nearing his deathbed. He requests John to light a candle, as the daylight has almost gone, and birds have sung their last, while the bells call all to mass. The monk asks John to sit beside him for a telling. He has been a part of the brotherhood and has dedicated his life to the scribing of God's words and history. At the same time, he spent many years perched out on the sea, where the waves would wash his tears, and the wind would carry memories. He had heard the ocean breathe and knew the wrath of the tempest.
Gradually, the years went by in his rocky cell, and he became friends with only mice and birds. It took many years for him to reach Romani, where he walks dusty roads, climbs high mountains, crosses deep rivers, and travels below the endless sky. As he hands his books and their mysteries to John beneath the jasmine flowers and cypress trees, he tells John to turn the hourglass on its head. And when the sands are still, that's when he'll find him dead finally. The song Skellig is a beautiful and poignant piece that focuses on the theme of human mortality.>
Line by Line Meaning
O light the candle, John
As the daylight fades, light the candle John, to brighten the darkness and usher in tranquility.
The daylight has almost gone
The day is ending and the night is approaching.
The birds have sung their last
The birds have finished their singing, leaving behind a tranquil and solemn atmosphere.
The bells call all to mass
The call for mass is announced by the bells to bring everyone together in worship.
Sit here by my side
Stay by my side for a long and intense conversation.
For the night is very long
The night is long and will provide ample time to share thoughts and stories.
There's something I must tell
There is an important message I need to share.
Before I pass along
Before I move on from this life.
I joined the brotherhood my books were all to me
I became a member of the brotherhood, and my books were my only companions.
I scribed the words of God
I wrote down the words of God and recorded much of history.
And much of history
The vast knowledge I obtained includes much of world history.
Many a year was I
I spent many years of my life.
Perched out upon the sea
I lived by the sea; its never-ending waves were all I knew.
The waves would wash my tears
The constant flow of the ocean would wipe away my tears.
The wind, my memory
The wind carried memories, both good and bad; it was always by my side.
I'd hear the ocean breathe
I would listen to the rhythmic breathing of the ocean.
Exhale upon the shore
The ocean would exhale on the shore, creating a calming atmosphere.
I knew the tempest's blood
I was familiar with the violent nature of storms and their potential destruction.
Its wrath I would endure
I was ready to face the fury of the storm.
And so the years went by
Years passed by, and I remained secluded in my rocky cell.
Within my rocky cell
I was confined to my rocky cell.
With only a mouse or bird
My only companions were the mice and birds that visited my cell.
My friends I loved them well
I cherished these creatures and considered them as close friends.
And so it came to pass
Finally, it happened.
I'd come here to Romani
I have journeyed to Romani.
And many a year it took
It took me many years to get here.
Till I arrived here with thee
Finally, I am here with you.
On dusty roads I walked
I walked on dusty roads and experienced the hardships of the journey.
And over mountains high
I crossed over high mountains that were difficult to conquer.
Through rivers running deep
I waded through deep rivers.
Beneath the endless sky
All along, I was under the vast sky.
Beneath these jasmine flowers
I am now under the jasmine flowers.
Amidst these cypress trees
Near the cypress trees.
I give you now my books
I present these books to you.
And all their mysteries
They contain all of their enigmas and secrets.
Now take the hourglass
Take this hourglass.
And turn it on its head
Flip it and start the sand's countdown.
For when the sands are still
When the sand stops falling.
Tis then you'll find me dead
You will know I have passed on.
O light the candle, John
As the daylight fades, light the candle John, to brighten the darkness and usher in tranquility.
The daylight is almost gone
The day has almost ended.
The birds have sung their last
The birds have stopped singing.
The bells call all to mass
The church bells are ringing to gather people for mass.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Loreena Mckennitt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@julianlewis1792
O light the candle, John
The daylight has almost gone
The birds have sung their last
The bells call all to mass
Sit here by my side
For the night is very long
There's something I must tell
Before I pass along
I joined the brotherhood
My books were all to me
I scribed the words of God
And much of history
Many a year was I
Perched out upon the sea
The waves would wash my tears,
The wind, my memory
I'd hear the ocean breathe
Exhale upon the shore
I knew the tempest's blood
Its wrath I would endure
And so the years went by
Within my rocky cell
With only a mouse or bird
My friend; I loved them well
And so it came to pass
I'd come here to Romani
And many a year it took
Till I arrived here with thee
On dusty roads I walked
And over mountains high
Through rivers running deep
Beneath the endless sky
Beneath these jasmine flowers
Amidst these cypress trees
I give you now my books
And all their mysteries
Now take the hourglass
And turn it on its head
For when the sands are still
'Tis then you'll find me dead
O light the candle, John
The daylight is almost gone
The birds have sung their last
The bells call all to mass
@v-man7037
From a guy who listens to very aggressive heavy metal, death metal, hardcore metal, hard rock etc....I really do enjoy listening to Loreena McKennitt's beautiful music 👍
@64fairlane305
a bit different wibes here, this kind of music reloads your energy while most other sucks it out
@ursusarctoshorribilis3756
To V - Man : the same for me ! 👍 It began with metal... and then came Loreena 😉
@v-man7037
@@ursusarctoshorribilis3756 I usually listen to Loreena's music when I'm welding. Helps me keep calm and steady doing those tough welds 👍
@stefphenix2913
same for me👌🎶
@v-man7037
@@stefphenix2913 That's awesome 👍
@TheBreathless24
What a beautiful song! Magical music and angelic voice!
@julianlewis1792
O light the candle, John
The daylight has almost gone
The birds have sung their last
The bells call all to mass
Sit here by my side
For the night is very long
There's something I must tell
Before I pass along
I joined the brotherhood
My books were all to me
I scribed the words of God
And much of history
Many a year was I
Perched out upon the sea
The waves would wash my tears,
The wind, my memory
I'd hear the ocean breathe
Exhale upon the shore
I knew the tempest's blood
Its wrath I would endure
And so the years went by
Within my rocky cell
With only a mouse or bird
My friend; I loved them well
And so it came to pass
I'd come here to Romani
And many a year it took
Till I arrived here with thee
On dusty roads I walked
And over mountains high
Through rivers running deep
Beneath the endless sky
Beneath these jasmine flowers
Amidst these cypress trees
I give you now my books
And all their mysteries
Now take the hourglass
And turn it on its head
For when the sands are still
'Tis then you'll find me dead
O light the candle, John
The daylight is almost gone
The birds have sung their last
The bells call all to mass
@tea-addict8956
I know this song is sad, but it surprisingly helps me to cope with grief and loss right now. There's something incredibly peaceful about the melody and lyrics. A silent promise that life goes on for all of us <3
@paulmcleish1181
And it helps me overcome issues I always listen to this song after a hard long day of work just to be at peace