Born on the 14th March 1965, as a teenager she formed the band Monsoon, and created a fusion of Western and Indian pop styles. She married Steve Coe, who became the band's producer, and along with Martin Smith, the band became a trio. They made a single album, Third Eye, in 1982, from which they had a surprise hit single "Ever So Lonely". However, resenting pressure from their record company over musical direction, Monsoon as a band dissolved and Coe and Smith set about promoting Chandra as a solo artist on an independent label.
Chandra went on to release a number of albums in the 1980s, experimenting with her voice as an instrument. In the 1990s she released three albums on Peter Gabriel's Real World label, although Martin Smith ceased to be actively involved.
In 1996 she provided vocals for a cover of Prodigy's hit "Smack My Bitch Up". In 2002 she performed the song "Breath of Life" with Howard Shore for the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers soundtrack.
She is no longer able to record, having developed "burned mouth syndrome" in 2010, which makes speech and singing so painful that she is effectively mute.
Lament of Mccrimmon / Song of the Banshee
Sheila Chandra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The banshee croons her note of wailing
But my blue e'en wi' sorrow are streaming
For him that will never return - MacCrimmon
No more, no more, no more forever
In war or peace shall return MacCrimmon
No more, no more, no more forever
The breezes on the braes are mournfully moaning
The brook in the hollow is plaintively mourning
But my blue e'en wi' sorrow are streaming
For him that will never return - MacCrimmon
No more, no more, no more forever
In war or peace shall return MacCrimmon
No more, no more, no more forever
Shall love or gold bring back MacCrimmon
In Sheila Chandra's song "Lament of McCrimmon / Song of the Banshee", the singer is mourning the loss of MacCrimmon, who will never return. The song is set against the backdrop of the Cuillin mountains, where the mist is sailing round its peak. The banshee adds to the mournful atmosphere with her note of wailing. The breezes on the braes and the brook in the hollow add to the mournful sound. The singer's eyes are streaming with sorrow for MacCrimmon.
The repetition of the phrase "No more, no more, no more forever" adds to the finality of MacCrimmon's absence. He will never return in war or peace, and neither love nor gold can bring him back. The lyrics suggest a sense of hopelessness, that no matter what one does, some losses can never be recovered.
Overall, "Lament of McCrimmon / Song of the Banshee" is a mournful song that reflects on the inevitability of loss, and the many ways in which we mourn those we have loved and lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Round Cuillin's peak the mist is sailing
The mist is moving around the peak of Cuillin mountains
The banshee croons her note of wailing
The banshee is singing a sad, mourning song
But my blue e'en wi' sorrow are streaming
My eyes are filled with tears of sadness
For him that will never return - MacCrimmon
I am mourning for MacCrimmon who will never come back
No more, no more, no more forever
MacCrimmon will never return again
In war or peace shall return MacCrimmon
MacCrimmon will never come back whether it's in war or peace
Shall love or gold bring back MacCrimmon
MacCrimmon cannot be brought back with either love or money
The breezes on the braes are mournfully moaning
The winds on the hills are making a sad, mournful sound
The brook in the hollow is plaintively mourning
The stream in the valley is also expressing sorrow and mourning
Writer(s): SHEILA CHANDRA, STEVE COE
Contributed by Cameron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dorakemba2899
[R] haplogroup originated somewhere between Central/South Asia or Siberia, about 27'000 y. (bp) ago. Since then a lot happnd.
■ [R] split into:
▪ [R1a]: possibly originated somewhere between South Asia, Southwest Asia or Central Asia.
▪ [R1b]: possibly originated somewhere between or in Western Asia or Central Asia.
What you mean... you mean R1a ppl, which later (some of them) turned into, evolved to Slavs - not Celts. R1a ppl are realted to wandering Vedic tribes. F.e. "Farsi/Persi" has its roots in "horsemen"/"mixed", > nomads. They are not only genetically, but also linguistically and geographically closer. R1a is all over india and beyond.
However, R1b went a total different way after it split shortly after R1a from its ancestor and came with totla different ppl in contact. R1b is also found in Africa. Some of these R1b ppl evolved ppl such as Celts f.e.
This "celts evolved from vedic tribes" has literally no base. Just ridiculous.
@ethnicmusiclover
I remember the first time I heard this I was stunned. This being a Scottish song about the family of Pipers from the Isle of Skye and my angel bride was Scottish Irish down the middle. She loved this song but I think this version she had to absorb a bit. She had never heard Sheila and I had records of Sheila. I learned bagpipes and Brenda bought me real ones that are a treasure to me. Brenda passed in Dec. of 2014. I listened to this song for first time since then and I think this is mind boggling how Sheila catches the essence of the haunting life and death of MacCrimmon. Ot was incredible to hear this tonight. It seems I am revisiting many music memories tonight. Music has been the healing force to my existence In the last year and half. I love Sheila, I love music. I love Brenda my angel bride and Brianna Lea Pruett whose music has saved my life the last year. Check out her Gypsy Bells album and especially her song of that title. I was devastated when Brianna passed in Sept of 2015. It was like I was starting over with my grieving again. Sorry for long note. This is normal the last year and half. Love you all who love music. Music is the freedom of the soul.
@joekool79
I lost my girlfriend in December 2014 as well. I have been going thru this healing of music also. Listening to all of her great music and songs we loved together. She was my heart and soul! She was a great woman! Soulmates for sure! Maaaan, I love her! Sorry about your loss brother
@jimm6095
Notorious how the Irish try to steal Scottish songs and culture!
@bobcorn
all old music has worldwide the same roots. When I hear this song it reminds me on gregorian.
How childisch to think one can posess old songs and outher could steel them.
There even where times (Walter von der Vogelweide) when a singer was PROUD of other singers using "theyr" melodies :-)
@vanjimbo
This a a Scottish song!
@ethnicmusiclover
I have come to the conclusion that mostly it is not stealing especially so far back. I woule call it borrowing. What is amazing how songs can change a little over time and sometimes becomes new songs! Robert Burns did that with his poems. Music is wonderful.
@kariaudar
Indian music and Celtic music happen to be two of my favourite musical categories, and to hear them so seamlessly and beautifully interwoven as in this performance by the magnificent Sheila Chandra is pure eargasm! :)
@aruvielevenstar3944
Kári Svansson those are my favorite too, so mesmerizing and enchanting. Mysterious.
@amsurnson
How interesting--the similarities between Eastern and Scottish music--a tonal, underlying drone. Very spiritual sound.
@malmalhi007
thats because you guys came out of India. The Indo Aryan invasions have had a befitting end