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.
Hidden Stories
Moya Brennan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hidden stories, can't imagine what could happen
Can't imagine going 'round and 'round in my world
Are we any wiser, why this little child falls down to sleep?
I'm running, running, I'm running all around
I'm running up and down
I'm running, running, I'm running all around
Precious times and precious moments
Precious moments, certain seasons almost turning
Almost turning rhyme and reason into wonder
Is it any wonder, why this little child falls down to sleep?
I'm running, running, I'm running all around
I'm running up and down
I'm running, running, I'm running all around
I'm running up and down
I'm running, running, I'm running all around
I'm running up and down
I'm running, running, I'm running all around
I'm running up and down
Hidden names and hidden stories
Hidden stories, can't imagine what could happen
Can't imagine going 'round and 'round in my world
Are we any wiser, why this little child falls down to sleep?
I'm running, running, I'm running all around
I'm running up and down
I'm running, running, I'm running all around
I'm running up and down
Moya Brennan’s song “Hidden Stories” is a contemplative and mysterious piece that brings up the idea that there are multiple untold stories waiting for us to discover them. The repetition of “hidden names and hidden stories” and “hidden stories, can’t imagine what could happen” suggests there is something beyond our understanding that is yet to be uncovered.
The song also explores the concept of time and how fleeting it can be, with the poignant line “precious moments, certain seasons almost turning.” It seems as though the singer is reflecting on the passing of time and how little we know of the world and its secrets. The line “is it any wonder, why this little child falls down to sleep?” adds a layer of melancholy to the song, hinting at the fragility of life and the inevitability of death.
The repetition of “I’m running, running, I’m running all around, I’m running up and down” suggests a sense of urgency and restlessness within the singer. It could be interpreted as a metaphor for the constant chasing after answers and the search for hidden stories. The song ends with the same repetition of “hidden names and hidden stories, hidden stories, can’t imagine what could happen,” emphasizing the mystery and enigma surrounding the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Hidden names and hidden stories
There are things that are not known, events that have been kept secret
Hidden stories, can't imagine what could happen
There are tales that are hard to believe as they are not exposed
Can't imagine going 'round and 'round in my world
It's difficult to picture oneself in a cycle of repetition
Are we any wiser, why this little child falls down to sleep?
Do we truly understand why things happen the way they do?
Precious times and precious moments
There are instances that are dear to the heart, and can not be replaced
Precious moments, certain seasons almost turning
Some occasions are so exceptional that they appear to be coming to an end soon
Almost turning rhyme and reason into wonder
Some occurrences are so remarkable that they almost defy explanation
Is it any wonder, why this little child falls down to sleep?
Should we be surprised that we still struggle to understand the most fundamental things?
I'm running, running, I'm running all around
The singer is busy and active, continually moving from place to place
I'm running up and down
The singer is moving back and forth, and is very busy and occupied
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MOYA BRENNAN, TIM JARVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MithraMusic
This is such a talented family all around. I liked Enya's older music, love Clannad, but now that Clannad is gone and Enya's output is just not as high-quality as it was in the early nineties, I've been looking for someone to kind of fill that void. I'm so glad I found Moya Brennan, she is really beautiful and seems to really enjoy what she does with music. And I really enjoy it too. Thanks for posting!
super-raw
Bono said she has the most beautiful voice the human ear has ever heard!
Darkangel76888
Wow. I love her voice. I wish to god I could sing really good like her. she's a good what I think is a opra singer. her voice is smooth and misty and nice Dinamics and good vobroto. ^^ I love Moya Brennan as a good fan. Sing on and live forever in the erternal life. Never stop singing. Heaven and Human life will remember you!!!!
Katharine Davis
I love Irish and Scots music, particularly moya , enya and clannad