The duo's name is reputed to be an amalgamation of "Sally" (the female Oldfield's name) and "Angie", the name of a guitar instrumental written by Davey Graham and more commonly called Anji.
The duo recorded for Transatlantic Records, with the track 'Love in Ice Crystals' appearing on the Transatlantic sampler 'Listen Here!' early in 1968 to promote the album 'Children of the Sun' released later that year; there were also two singles: 'Two Ships' released in September 1969 and 'Child of Allah' which appeared in December 1972 - three years after the duo had split.
Children of the Sun
The Sallyangie Lyrics
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Sunrise feeling with golden fingers, the edges of the night
There's a hush in the air, in his silver hair
King Solomon is my father
Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah's sending children of the sun
I watch the boats go by as evening colours the sand
The rain is bringing tears from my lovers land
I cry to the wind bring back my lover to me
Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah's sending children of the sun
My lover's hands are whiter than the wings of a dove
His hair is softest fire that fall in heavenly love
His smile is a blue birds cry on a midsummer's morn
His kiss is the touch of the sun before the earth's new dawn.
Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah's sending children of the sun
My lover used to bring me stars he found in the sand
I would lay the singing skies inside his tiny hand
Tonight the moon is dripping on the coloured river we knew
O take me where he lies cryin' in the mornin' dew
Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah's sending children of the sun
I watch the boats go by as evening colours the sand
The rain is bringing tears from my lovers land
I watch the silver stars melt in love with the sea
I cry to the wind bring back my lover to me
Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah's sending children of the sun
The Sallyangie's "Children of the Sun" is a beautiful ballad that paints a picture of a person who is missing their lover. Sunrise is described as "shimmering" the city walls with yellow light and feeling the edges of the night with golden fingers, implying a sense of newness and hope. King Solomon is mentioned as the singer's father, giving the song a sense of regality.
The chorus, with its repetition of "Allah's sending children of the sun", gives the song a spiritual and somewhat mystical quality. The singer watches boats go by, waiting for their lover to return. The rain is bringing tears from their lover's land, reflecting a sense of longing and sadness.
The second verse describes the singer's lover, whose hands are whiter than the wings of a dove and whose hair is like softest fire. The imagery of the lover's smile as a blue bird's cry is particularly striking. The singer again cries out to Allah for help in bringing back their lover.
The final verse depicts the lover bringing stars to the singer and the pair sharing a connection with the sky and nature. The moon is described as "dripping" on the colored river, creating a melancholy atmosphere. The singer cries out to be with their lover again, completing the song's cycle of loss and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunrise shimmers the city walls with yellow light
The morning light illuminates and shines on the walls of the city with a beautiful yellow hue.
Sunrise feeling with golden fingers, the edges of the night
As the sun rises, it seems as though its golden rays are gently caressing and bringing an end to the darkness of night.
There's a hush in the air, in his silver hair
There is a sense of quiet and stillness in the air, which is echoed in the silver hair of King Solomon.
King Solomon is my father
The artist is claiming to be the offspring of King Solomon.
Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah's sending children of the sun
The artist is calling on Allah, the Muslim deity, and asking for the arrival of the children of the sun.
I watch the boats go by as evening colours the sand
The singer observes the flow of the boats as the sun sets and the colors of the sky start to paint the sand.
The rain is bringing tears from my lovers land
The rain and tears are falling from the loved ones of the singer, who feel the same emotions as her.
I watch the silver stars melt in love with the sea
As the night sky becomes increasingly darker, the artist watches the stars appear to submit to the beauty of the surrounding sea.
I cry to the wind bring back my lover to me
The artist pleads with the wind to bring back her lover to her.
My lover's hands are whiter than the wings of a dove
The artist describes the pure and white color of her lover's hands, which she compares to the wings of a dove.
His hair is softest fire that falls in heavenly love
The singer compares the fiery color and soft texture of her lover's hair to the idea of heavenly love.
His smile is a blue birds cry on a midsummer's morn
The artist compares her lover's smile to the sound of a bluebird's cry on a quiet, warm morning in summer.
His kiss is the touch of the sun before the earth's new dawn.
The singer describes the sensation of her lover's kiss, which she compares to the feeling of the sun's rays before a new day begins.
My lover used to bring me stars he found in the sand
The singer reminisces about a time when her lover would bring her stars he found in the sand as a symbol of his love.
I would lay the singing skies inside his tiny hand
The singer describes how she would place the beauty of the sky into her lover's small hand.
Tonight the moon is dripping on the coloured river we knew
The artist describes how the moon is casting a reflective and colorful glow on a river that she and her lover once knew well.
O take me where he lies cryin' in the mornin' dew
The artist pleads to be taken to where her lover lies, crying in the morning dew.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SALLY ANNE OLDFIELD, MICHAEL GORDON OLDFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind