Reilly was born in Glasgow. Her early career included singing with the Scottish Jazz Funk band Cado Belle. In 1992, she issued her debut solo album "Echoes", from which the singles "Everytime We Touch", "Tears in the Rain" and "Wait" were the most successful ones, followed by "Midnight Sun" in 1993, "Elena" in 1996, "Starcrossed" in 2000, "Save it for a Rainy Day" in 2003 and "Rowan" in 2006.
In 2006, a Eurodance-styled cover of Maggie's "Every time We Touch" by the German trio Cascada became a world-wide hit.
She has also worked with many others including Mike Batt (on his "The Hunting of the Snark" album), Jack Bruce, Dave Greenfield & Jan-Jacques Burnel, Lesiëm, Ralph McTell, Simon Nicol (of Fairport Convention), Runrig, The Sisters of Mercy and Smokie.
Canada
Maggie Reilly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just to spend some time with you
I think I would
And if I could have a month or two
Just to spend my time with you
I think I would
But the light's fading in the distance
Skylight is red with all the citylights
And driving's such a long way home
I've been saving half the year
To make this trip and come back here
But now it's done
You tell me that my accent's changed
apart from that I'm still the same
But now it's done
The light's fading in the distance
I drive my weary way home
Skylight is red with all the citylights
Glasgow's such a long way home
See the light fading in the distance
I drive my weary way home
Skylight is red with all the citylights
I'm driving such a long way home
I'm flying back to Canada
Looking up at all the stars as we take off
These three weeks seem so short somehow
I wish they were starting now
As we take off
But the light's fading in the distance
I drive my weary way home
Skylight is bright with all the citylights
And Glasgow's such a long way home
The lyrics to Maggie Reilly's song "Canada" depict a longing for the company of someone dear and the struggle of leaving that person behind. The opening stanza expresses the desire to spend as much time as possible with this loved one, even if it's just a few days or a month. The repetition of "I think I would" emphasizes the singer's conviction and longing for this time together. However, the singer is ultimately driving home alone, watching the city lights fade in the distance, and feeling the weight of the long journey ahead. The chorus emphasizes this feeling of distance and longing, as the singer notes how far Glasgow feels from where they are now.
As the song progresses, the verses detail a trip that has come to an end. The singer had been saving up for this trip for six months, and now that it's over, they are driving home alone. But even as time has passed and things may have changed, the singer still feels a connection to this person, as evidenced by the line "apart from that I'm still the same." The chorus repeats, highlighting the long and lonely drive home, the distant and fading city lights.
At the end of the song, the singer is flying back to Canada, but still feeling the same longing for this person. The three weeks they have spent apart seem too short, and the singer wishes they were starting all over again. But even as they look up at the stars during take-off, they know the inevitable feeling of distance will return once they land in Glasgow.
Overall, "Canada" is a poignant and introspective song about the feeling of distance and longing, as well as the struggle of leaving someone behind. The repeating chorus emphasizes the singer's melancholy, lonely feelings, and the verses provide a narrative backdrop of a trip taken, and a love left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could have a day or two
The singer wishes she could have a few days to spend time with her loved one.
Just to spend some time with you
She just wants to be with her loved one.
I think I would
She is sure that she would spend her time with her loved one.
And if I could have a month or two
The singer wishes she could have more time.
Just to spend my time with you
She wants to spend all her time with her loved one.
But the light's fading in the distance
The day is ending and it's time for her to go home.
I drive my weary way home
She is tired but has to drive back home.
Skylight is red with all the citylights
The sky is red due to the citylights.
And driving's such a long way home
The journey back home is long and tiring.
I've been saving half the year
She saved money for six months just to make this trip.
To make this trip and come back here
She made a long journey to come and visit her loved one.
But now it's done
The visit is over and she has to go back home.
You tell me that my accent's changed
Her loved one notices that her accent has changed.
Apart from that I'm still the same
She is still the same person despite her accent change.
See the light fading in the distance
The day is ending and it's time for her to go back home.
I'm flying back to Canada
She is returning to Canada on a plane.
Looking up at all the stars as we take off
As she takes off, she looks up into the night sky filled with stars.
These three weeks seem so short somehow
Her visit seems too short and has flown by too quickly.
I wish they were starting now
She wishes that she could start her visit again.
Skylight is bright with all the citylights
The city lights make the sky look bright.
And Glasgow's such a long way home
Glasgow is a long way from her destination.
Contributed by Sarah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MrElnich
Мэгги прекрасна, как всегда!