There are at least two bands named Secret Garden or Secret Gardens.

… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two bands named Secret Garden or Secret Gardens.

(1) Secret Garden is an Irish-Norwegian duo playing New Instrumental Music, also understood by some as Neo-classical music.

It features the Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry and the Norwegian composer/pianist Rolf Løvland. Secret Garden has sold over 3 million albums and won the Eurovision Song Contest for Norway in 1995, with the composition Nocturne. It was the first and only time to date that a predominantly instrumental piece has won the Eurovision Song Contest, although a few Norwegian language lyrics were included to ensure that the entry adhered to the contest's rules. In addition Rolf Løvland also co-wrote the song La det swinge (Let it swing) that secured Norway its first Eurovision Song Contest victory in 1985.

Their success at Eurovision spearheaded the success of their first album Songs from a Secret Garden. It sold a million copies around the world going platinum in Norway and Korea, gold in Ireland, Hong Kong and New Zealand and spending two years in the Billboard New Age charts in 1996 and 1997. Barbara Streisand adapted Heartstrings from this album as the song I've Dreamed Of You on her A Love Like Ours album. She also used Heartstrings in her wedding to James Brolin.

The album White Stones followed in 1997 also making the top ten on Billboard New Age charts. Dawn of a New Century in 1999, Dreamcatcher in 2001 and Once In a Red Moon also enjoyed success around the world including reaching top ten on the Billboard.

Their most famous song You Raise Me Up, performed by Brian Kennedy has been recorded by more than a hundred other artists including Josh Groban and Westlife.

Secret Garden has released a Dreamcatcher: Best Of for its tour through Australia and New Zealand in 2004. It reached the top of the Australian New Age charts and the ARIA top 50 album charts.

Rolf Løvland won the price of years line-price in Spellemann 2007. In that same year, the album Inside I'm Singing was released.

Their official site can be found at www.secretgarden.no

Secret Garden's albums (in chronological order):

Songs from a Secret Garden (1996)
White stones (1997)
Dawn of a New Century (1999)
Dreamcatcher (2001)
Once in a Red Moon (2002)
Dreamcatcher: Best Of (2004, Australia)
Earthsongs (2005)
Inside I'm Singing (2007)

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(2) Secret Gardens is a post-rock band based out of New York and led by Greg Almeida. They have released two full-length albums, Tundra (2021) and their most recent release, everbloom (2022). Their debut EP, Verão, was released in 2019.

Verão (2019)
Tundra (2021)
everbloom (2022)

Greg Almeida has described these albums as part of an ongoing series of four planned records sonically representing the seasons. The latest, everbloom, is the spring installment in this series and features guest vocals from Andrew Wells (Eidola).

Sona
Secret Garden Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ag breacadh an lae do chumar ag siúl
Aoibhneas an tsaoil amach romhainn
Clocha draíochta chomh geal lenár súile
Casán ag glioscarnach dúinn

Suaimhneas na coillte is ceol inár gcroithe
Macalla fuaim an tsrutháin
Duilleoga fómhar mar ghuth are an ngaoth

Sé nádúr is cúis lenár ngrá

A'Taisteal sa choill seo are fán is are fuaidreamh
Réalta geala eolais ag lonradh don rí
A'Taisteal sa choill seo are fán is are fuaidreamh
Clocha bána ag lasadh ár slí

Anois tá réalta a'rince sa spéir
Is an saol ina gholadh go sámh
Aislingi áille I ngairdín mo rún
Brionglóidí thart orainn are snámh

Súile síor lasta le solas
Súile faoi gheasa na rún
Taibhreamh are sheoda an ghairdín
Iontais nach sceithfear go buan

A'Taisteal sa choill seo are fán is are fuaidreamh
Réalta geala eolais ag louradh don rí

A'Taisteal sa choill seo are fán is are fuaidreamh
Clocha bána ag lasadh ár slí

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Secret Garden's song Sona conjure up images of a peaceful morning walk in the woods, where the magical stones glisten in the sunshine and the trees resonate with the sounds of nature. The beauty of the forest is a source of comfort and joy, and the music of the brook and the rustling of leaves bring a sense of calm to the heart. There is a sense of wonder and mystery in the air, as if the woods hold secrets and dreams that transcend time and reality. The starry sky above and the flowers blooming in the garden create a sense of enchantment, and the eyes remain fixed on these marvels around us, mesmerized by the unseen forces of nature.

The song’s descriptive imagery of nature can be seen as an analogy for the beauty and mystery of life. Just like the forest, life is full of wonder and secrets, and the easiest way to appreciate it is by taking a moment to experience it fully. The simplicity of a walk in the woods can inspire awe and show us the depth of what we often take for granted. Sona carries a message of the importance of finding peace and comfort through simple pleasures, particularly as life seems to be increasingly more complicated.

Line by Line Meaning

Ag breacadh an lae do chumar ag siúl
As the day dawns, we walk forward

Aoibhneas an tsaoil amach romhainn
The joy of life lies ahead of us

Clocha draíochta chomh geal lenár súile
Magical stones shining bright in our eyes

Casán ag glioscarnach dúinn
A path twinkling before us

Suaimhneas na coillte is ceol inár gcroithe
Peace of the forest and music in our hearts

Macalla fuaim an tsrutháin
Echoes of the flowing stream

Duilleoga fómhar mar ghuth are an ngaoth
Autumn leaves like the sound of the wind

Sé nádúr is cúis lenár ngrá
Nature is the reason for our love

A'Taisteal sa choill seo are fán is are fuaidreamh
Walking in this forest lost in our dreams

Réalta geala eolais ag lonradh don rí
Bright stars of knowledge shining for the king

Clocha bána ag lasadh ár slí
White stones lighting up our path