Oldfield and her siblings were raised in the Roman Catholic faith of their mother, Maureen. After spending her childhood partly in Dublin and then partly in Reading, Berkshire, Oldfield joined the Royal Academy of Dancing at the age of twelve to study ballet dancing. She quit dancing only four years later.
Oldfield's musical career started in 1968 when she co-founded the folk duo The Sallyangie together with brother Mike Oldfield. The group recorded their first and only album at the recommendation of the Pentangle guitarist, John Renbourn. The sound of the album, Children of the Sun recorded in 1969, was a fairy-tale blend of English folk and pop, with Sally's vocals taking center-stage. Guesting with The Sallyangie on their first recording were Terry Cox, noted drummer/percussionist of Pentangle, as well as flutist Ray Warleigh, who also played with Allan Holdsworth, Nick Drake and many others. Sally and Mike split up in the autumn of the same year due to artistic differences, and Sally and Mike went their own ways for a time.
Oldfield's first solo album release was Water Bearer, released in 1978. Since then, she has continued to release solo albums, as well as appearing on several albums of her siblings Mike and Terry. She was one of the singers performing the female chorus in a couple of sections of Tubular Bells, in the climax of part one and just before the Scottish tune in part two.
Maya
Sally Oldfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cooled by the breeze, the earth is cradled in the starlight,
Still is the night in the heart of the summer,
Moon on the water, MAYA!
Moon on the water, MAYA!
Called by the bell, the night surrenders to the dawn light,
A new day is born and the sky is on fire,
Moon on the water, MAYA!
Cooled by the breeze, the earth is cradled in the starlight,
Still is the night in the heart of the summer,
A new day is born and the sky is on fire,
Moon on the water, MAYA!
Moon on the water, MAYA!
The lyrics of Sally Oldfield's song "Maya" invoke a sense of peace, tranquility and connection with nature. The repeated chorus "Moon on the water, MAYA!" serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of life, as the moon waxes and wanes, and the night gives way to daylight. The first verse describes a serene night, cooled by a gentle breeze and bathed in starlight. It sets a scene of calmness and stillness, as though the world has paused to take a breath. The second verse speaks of the dawn and the birth of a new day. The night surrenders to the rising sun, and the sky ignites with fire. The imagery conjured is one of rebirth, renewal and awakenings.
In essence, the lyrics of "Maya" encourage us to find harmony and balance within ourselves, and to connect with the natural world around us. The titular word "Maya" is a Sanskrit term that can be translated to mean "illusion" or "delusion". In Hindu philosophy, it is used to describe the illusory nature of the material world that we perceive through our senses. It can also refer to the transient nature of life and the impermanence of all things. In this sense, the song may be seen as a meditation on the temporal nature of existence and the reassurance that the cycle of birth and rebirth continues.
Line by Line Meaning
Moon on the water, MAYA!
The world is full of illusions (Maya) which can be seen in the reflection of the moon on the water.
Cooled by the breeze, the earth is cradled in the starlight,
The gentle breeze provides relief from the heat, while the world is surrounded by the calming light of stars.
Still is the night in the heart of the summer,
Even in the midst of summer's liveliness, there are moments of tranquility and stillness.
Called by the bell, the night surrenders to the dawn light,
The ringing of the bell symbolizes the end of one period and the beginning of a new one, as the darkness of the night gives way to the light of dawn.
A new day is born and the sky is on fire,
The start of a new day is marked by the bright, fiery colors of the sunrise.
Moon on the water, MAYA!
The reflection of the moon on the water continues to represent the illusory nature of the world.
Moon on the water, MAYA!
The Maya concept is repeated to reinforce the idea of the world as an illusion.
Contributed by Natalie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MarkConnely
What a great gift she has for a beautiful melody. Melody is considered old-fashioned now, decidedly un-hip, but without it, music has no heart and life becomes, following Shakespeare, " ...a tale told by a fool, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing".
Here's to those who keep the flame alive.
@simmisaa7905
Wich wonderful song and performance from Sally ..new for me <3