Brennan grew up as the eldest in a very musical family in a remote parish in the northwest of Ireland, a place where the Irish language and tradition was and still is very much alive. She sang along with her siblings in the family pub, Leo's Tavern. She also took part in many pantomimes in Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair, the local theatre, usually dancing and singing.
It was during 1970 that she joined her two brothers Pól and Ciarán and their mother's two twin brothers Noel and Pádraig Ó Dúgáin and eventually formed Clannad. After enjoying a decade of being the world's foremost traditional Irish act, they graduated to chart success in 1982 with the album Magical Ring. Moya Brennan was at the forefront of the group's success and her voice suddenly became synonymous with celtic music and Irish music at the time. She has recorded 17 albums with Clannad and has won a Grammy, a BAFTA and an Ivor Novello award with the quintet.
Moya Brennan released her first solo album in 1992, Máire, on Atlantic Records. Misty Eyed Adventures on BGM followed three years later. In 1998, Brennan signed with Word Records and released Perfect Time, and Whisper To The Wild Water a year later. The album was nominated in the Grammy Awards of 2001 for Best New Age Album. 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 several of her songs centering on maintaining a relationship with Jesus Christ. Some of her songs show influences from her Catholic upbringing or seem relational due to her own views concerning the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In total Brennan has recorded 25 albums, and has sold over 20 million records. 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.
Brennan, along with Clannad, are considered as the inventors of contemporary celtic music and are held in high esteem for their vast contribution to modernizing old Irish songs. It is Brennan's haunting voice that has left the most lasting legacy, it has become synonymic with Clannad's work and with Irish music in general. Her ethereal vocalization is considered the archetypal sound of Ireland and strains of her style have been acquired in the soundtracks to Titanic and Riverdance. Brennan is also famous for her harp playing, she has featured it on many Clannad records and her album Two Horizons is based on the discovery of the harp.
Moya is also a member of Irish traditional group, T with the Ms.
Ancient Town
Moya Brennan Lyrics
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Nowhere to turn to in ancient town
No names to follow, some empty station
No one remembers this ancient town
No trees to shelter, this night for sleeping
No love to silence in ancient town
No voice confesses, the heart is broken
No street to find you, just falling circles
No way to answer for ancient town
No road to guide me, the signs aren't rhyming
No way to trouble this ancient town
Is there one bright star?
One light in darkness glowing from afar
Is there one kind word?
One hand to hold amidst the crowded herd
The lyrics of Moya Brennan’s Ancient Town are an emotional and introspective journey of a person who finds themselves lost and alone in a once-thriving ancient town. The lyrics have a somber tone, depicting a sense of abandonment and hopelessness, with no solace to be found in the deserted town. The opening lines “No place to hide dreams in crying faces, Nowhere to turn to in ancient town” seem to suggest the futility of dreaming in a place where no one cares. Similarly, the lines “No street to find you, just falling circles, No way to answer for ancient town” encapsulate the sense of unease felt by the singer, lost and aimlessly wandering through the deserted streets.
The lyrics also highlight the lack of love, faith, and direction in the ancient town. The lines “No trees to shelter, this night for sleeping, No love to silence in ancient town, No voice confesses, the heart is broken” seem to suggest the absence of warmth and comfort in the town. The singer seems to be searching for a guiding light or a kind word to hold onto amidst the overwhelming darkness and chaos of the ancient town.
In conclusion, Moya Brennan's Ancient Town is a melancholic and introspective song that explores the themes of isolation, abandonment, and hopelessness through vivid and powerful imagery. The song ultimately offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness, with the singer searching for a light to guide them out of the ancient town.
Line by Line Meaning
No place to hide dreams in crying faces
This town offers no escape from the misery and hopelessness that surrounds it.
Nowhere to turn to in ancient town
This town provides no refuge or comfort for its inhabitants.
No names to follow, some empty station
There are no prominent or notable figures in this town - everyone is nameless and insignificant.
No one remembers this ancient town
This town has been forgotten by the rest of the world, and its inhabitants are left to languish in obscurity.
No trees to shelter, this night for sleeping
The town offers no respite from the darkness and cold - there are no trees or other natural features to provide shelter or warmth.
No love to silence in ancient town
There is no love or kindness to be found in this town - the inhabitants are all consumed by their own misery and despair.
No voice confesses, the heart is broken
No one is willing to admit to the sadness and pain they are feeling - all the hearts in this town are broken and alone.
No time tomorrow in ancient town
There is no hope or possibility of a brighter future for the inhabitants of this desolate town.
No street to find you, just falling circles
There are no clear pathways or directions within this town - all the inhabitants are lost and trapped in an endless, meaningless cycle.
No way to answer for ancient town
There is no one to hold accountable for the suffering and despair that pervades this town.
No road to guide me, the signs aren't rhyming
There are no clear or reliable signs to point the way towards a better future - everything in this town is in disarray and confusion.
No way to trouble this ancient town
There is no way to alleviate the suffering and despair that characterizes life in this ancient town.
Is there one bright star?
Is there any hope or possibility of escape from the endless darkness and despair of this town?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MOYA BRENNAN, ROSS CULLUM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind