She is the elder sister of the singer Enya, who was also briefly a member of Clannad in the early 1980s.
Her music is usually classified as New Age or Celtic. She accepts the Celtic label, but has at times indicated a slight discomfort with being seen as "New Age" as much of her music is strongly Christian, with some of her songs showing additional influences from her Catholic upbringing.
Since 2002, she has promoted herself as Moya Brennan -- a spelling closely resembling the phonetic pronunciation of her name for those not familiar with the Irish variant of the spelling.
According to her official website, her early influences included the likes of Joni Mitchell and the Beach Boys, before she discovered "the extraordinary wealth of Celtic history and melody on her doorstep".
Moya is also a member of Irish vocal supergroup T with the Maggies.
Days Of The Dancing
Máire Brennan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Secret old
Whispering words
I gave you my answer
On the stepping ground
I gave you my answer
In the days of the dancing
Whispered words
Eagle stare not a care
Worlds apart out of tune
With souls laid bare
Then the music stops
I gave you my answer
On the stepping ground
I gave you my answer
In the days of the dancing
In the days of the dancing
Sheltered hearts
Beat in time
Never more certain
Shattered dreams
Flood of tears
The final curtain
Then the music starts
Here comes the night
Worlds apart
Step in time
With hearts on fire
Whispered words
Laughing eyes
So long my valentine
Dim the dance hall lights
I gave you my answer
On the stepping ground
I gave you my answer
In the days of the dancing
In the days of the dancing
The song "Days of The Dancing" by Máire Brennan seems to speak about a beautiful and dance-filled time in the past, perhaps a romance that is gone now. The whispered words and secret old memories bring back a time where eagles stared, and there was no care in the world. The singer gave her answer in the stepping ground, which could mean a beautiful dance, where they both gave their hearts freely to each other. While they were dancing, the world was out of tune, perhaps suggesting that this couple was somewhere else, somewhere beautiful, and all the pain of the world was left behind.
The second part of the song tells of the present day where those dancing days are gone. Sheltered hearts beat in time, which could mean that both lovers moved on, but the memory of that time still lives on in their hearts. There are probably no more shattered dreams, and tears flood of times long forgotten. The final curtain is the end of the dance, and the music stops. But then the music starts again, bringing back the memories of the past. The last few lyrics seem to symbolize the end of the love affair. They say, "Here comes the night, worlds apart, Step in time, With hearts on fire, Whispered words, Laughing eyes, So long my valentine, Dim the dance hall lights."
Line by Line Meaning
Whispered words
Softly spoken phrases
Secret old
Ancient knowledge kept hidden
Whispering words
Continued murmurs
I gave you my answer
I revealed my response
On the stepping ground
While dancing on the floor
In the days of the dancing
During the time of movement to music
Eagle stare not a care
Intense gaze without concern
Worlds apart out of tune
Separated and disconnected
With souls laid bare
Exposing one's innermost self
Then the music stops
Ending of the melody
Sheltered hearts
Protected emotions
Beat in time
Pulsating in synchronicity
Never more certain
Not previously so sure
Shattered dreams
Broken aspirations
Flood of tears
Stream of weeping
The final curtain
Closing of this chapter
Then the music starts
Followed by the recommencement of music
Here comes the night
Darkness approaches
Step in time
Dance with the beat
With hearts on fire
Passionately driven
Laughing eyes
Happiness in one's gaze
So long my valentine
Farewell my love
Dim the dance hall lights
Turn down the brightness in the room
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MOYA BRENNAN, TIMOTHY JOHN JARVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
gravelandgrain100
She has an amazing voice. Check out Moya and Chicane tear up the dance floor with "Saltwater" it's trance music accompanied by "harry's Game"(Clannad sung by Moya).
rosafelicio
Adoro esta canção, maravilhosa.
stereovoyage
This fabulous song is very motivating and I'm ready to dance in Irish landscape!
Shawnne TessmanMc Kenna
I love this song! It reminds me of when I first met my husband!
Tara Wills
i haven't heard this album before, thank you so much for sharing it, wow Moya's voice with Greek sounds!! AMAZING!!!!
CoffeeCat086
Thank you so much for posting this! I lost my whole collection of hers, Clannad, Capercaillie, karen Mathewson, solas, Karan Casey, Runrig, Dougie Maclean, Karine Polwart, and many other great artists. That cd book was so full and had to add lots of extra pages to the point that you couldn’t even zip it up… I’ve been able to find some on Apple Music but this and two horizons are missing from Maire’a discography and some others from artists as well. Like some that aren’t there are just weird!
NYRfan4Life
I absolutely love this song.
I've been searching for this for over 6 years and now...
I've finally found you. ❤🎶🎧✌😉🎼🎵💿
Margaret Escobar
MARAVILLOSA cancion para danzar con todo.nuestro corazón
gertrudis
DIVINAAAAA CANCIÓN! ME TRANSPORTA A LA ALEGRÍA PURA DE NIÑA!!!
Italodisco is alive
Outstanding masterpiece