Incantations
Mike Oldfield Lyrics


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Dah - yaa - naa
Looh - ooh - naa
Looh - she - naa

(repeat chorus 18 times)

Looh - naa
Looh - ooh - naa

(repeat chorus)

Dah - yaa - naa
Looh
Looh - she - naa
Looh - naa

Incantations part 2

(repeat chorus 3 times)

Looh - naa

(repeat chorus 3 times)

Looh - naa
Looh - naa

(repeat chorus)

Dah - yaa - naa
Looh - naa




Looh - she - naa
Looh - naeh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "Incantations" by Mike Oldfield are essentially composed of three distinct sounds or vocalizations: "Dah-yaa-naa", "Looh-ooh-naa" and "Looh-she-naa". These sounds are repeated over and over throughout the song, with variations in tempo and intensity, and interspersed with instrumental sections. As the title suggests, the song creates an atmosphere of ritualistic or mystical chanting, evoking perhaps a sense of ancient or otherworldly connections.


As the song progresses, the variations in the vocal patterns become more intricate, with overlapping layers of sound and rhythmic patterns. The lyrics in the second part of the song follow a similar structure, with variations and repetitions of the same vocalizations. The intelligibility of the lyrics is not the main focus, rather the intention seems to be to create a sonic texture that produces a trance-like effect, enveloping the listener in waves of sound that build in intensity and complexity, taking them on a journey of hypnotic rhythms and sonic landscapes.


Line by Line Meaning

Dah-yaa-naa
Beginning of the incantation, calling upon spiritual forces to manifest.


Looh-ooh-naa
Invocation of a powerful, benevolent entity.


Looh-she-naa
Continuation of invocation, calling upon the entity to provide guidance and protection.


Chorus
Repetition of the incantation, reinforcing the energy and calling upon the entity to manifest.


Looh-naa
Acknowledgment of the entity's presence and continued invocation of its power.


Looh-ooh-naa
Reiteration of the invocation, calling upon the entity's benevolence.


Incantations part 2
Continuation of the incantation, building upon the energy and calling greater forces to manifest.


Chorus
Repetition of the incantation, reinforcing the energy and calling upon the entity to manifest.


Looh-naa
Acknowledgment of the entity's presence and continued invocation of its power.


Looh-naa
Reiteration of the acknowledgment of the entity's presence and power.


Chorus
Final repetition of the incantation, culminating in the manifestation of the entity's power.


Dah-yaa-naa
Concluding the incantation and marking the end of the calling forth of spiritual forces.


Looh-naa
Final acknowledgment of the entity's presence and power.


Looh-she-naa
Final call upon the entity to provide guidance and protection.


Looh-naeh
Final word of the incantation, signifying completion and unity with the spiritual forces called upon.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MIKE OLDFIELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

ISABELLA deste GONZAGA

yup :)
ich meine INCANTATIONS ist sein bestes album .
ich habe das damals 1979 im radio mittgeschnitten .
sowas haben die damals vollständig im rundfunk übertragen . heute unvorstellbar .
gut das es internet gibt :)
i mean INCANTATIONS is his best album.
I recorded it on the radio back in 1979.
something like that they broadcast completely on the radio at the time. unimaginable today.
good that there is internet :)



thom fmify

The Song of Hiawatha from Longfellow

By the shores of gitche gumee,
By the shining big-sea-water,
At the doorway of the wigwam,
In the early summer morning,

Hiawatha stood and waited.
All the air was full of freshness,
All the earth was bright and joyous,
And before him, through the sunshine,

Westward toward the neighboring forest
Passed in golden swarms the ahmo,
Passed the bees, the honey-makers,
Burning, singing in the sunshine.

Bright above him shone the heavens,
Level spread the lake before him;
From it's bosom leaped the sturgeon,
Sparkling, flashing in the sunshine;

On it's margin the great forest
Stood reflected in the water,
Every tree-top had it's shadow,
Motionless beneath the water.

From the brow of hiawatha
Gone was every trace of sorrow,
As the fog from off the water,
As the mist from off the meadow.

With a smile of joy and gladness,
With a look of exultation,
As of one who in a vision
Sees what is to be, but is not,

Stood and waited hiawatha.
Toward the sun his hands were lifted,
Both the palms spread out toward it,
And between the parted fingers

Fell the sunshine on his features,
Flecked with light his naked shoulders,
As it falls and flecks an oak-tree
Through the rifted leaves and branches.

O'er the water floating, flying,
Something in the hazy distance,
Something in the mists of morning,
Loomed and lifted from the water,

Now seemed floating, now seemed flying,
Coming nearer, nearer, nearer.
Was it shingebis the diver?
Or the pelican, the shada?

Or the heron, the shuh-shuh-gah?
Or the white goose, waw-be-wana,
With the water dripping, flashing,
From it's glossy neck and feathers?

It was neither goose nor diver,
Neither pelican nor heron,
O'er the water floating, flying,
Through the shining mist of morning,

But a birch canoe with paddles,
Rising, sinking on the water,
Dripping, flashing in the sunshine;
And within it came a people

[The son of the evening star]

Can it be the sun descending
O'er the level plain of water?
Or the red swan floating, flying,
Wounded by the magic arrow,

Staining all the waves with crimson,
With the crimson of it's life-blood,
Filling all the air with splendor,
Filling all the air with plumage?

Yes; it is the sun descending,
Sinking down into the water;
All the sky is stained with purple,
All the water flushed with crimson!

No; it is the red swan floating,
Diving down beneath the water;
To the sky it's wings are lifted,
With it's blood the waves are reddened!

Over it the star of evening
Melts and trembles through the purple,
Hangs suspended in the twilight,
Walks in silence through the heavens.



All comments from YouTube:

Onjikun

It's really a shame that none of Mike Oldfield's other work has gotten the same amount of attention as Tubular Bells. People are really missing out on a lot of great music here.

ISABELLA deste GONZAGA

yup :)
ich meine INCANTATIONS ist sein bestes album .
ich habe das damals 1979 im radio mittgeschnitten .
sowas haben die damals vollständig im rundfunk übertragen . heute unvorstellbar .
gut das es internet gibt :)
i mean INCANTATIONS is his best album.
I recorded it on the radio back in 1979.
something like that they broadcast completely on the radio at the time. unimaginable today.
good that there is internet :)

Chris Bishop

Tubular Bells was cutting edge innovation at the time. I've bought every MO album since because of its influence. Mike often gets family involved. If it's not Sally its Terry ... Terry plays the opening flute solo parts to this incredible album.
I was working with Terry in Gorton Manchester, and he played a little bit of that infamous intro on the very same flute which is heard throughout this album. Sent chills up my spine 👍

ISABELLA deste GONZAGA

@Chris Bishop,
Öhm ...
Christopher bishop from university of edinburgh ? Mustererkennung und maschinelles lernen ?
ich hoffe , ich falle jetzt nicht wieder in meine nichtrationalen phasen :)

Templário do Rock

@ISABELLA deste GONZAGA Those were the days. The golden radio days...

Kevin Wilson

Along with ommadawn this is my favourite of his albums

52 More Replies...

Jeremy Franks

When I told my wife how much I liked this album she casually mentioned that she was part of the Queen's College Choir singing backing vocals at 9:42 onwards. Fame at last!

Jerry Austen

excellent story - love stuff like that !

Joe Brown

Oh my god. So lucky to work with him. Diana. What a piece.

ohh Yummi

great story

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