Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996
From: Mark Mulingbayan (marktom@mnl.sequel.net)
Thanks to Sumit Shah for posting Roma Ryan's notes on the inspiration for TMOT lyrics. I was surprised the inspiration for the La Soņadora lyric was a poem by Amairgen, the first Druid of the Gaels in Ireland. I believe many in this list would be interested in this "song". I found it in the book "The Druids" by Peter Berresford Ellis.
I am the Wind that blows across the Sea
I am the Wave of the Ocean
I am the Murmur of the Billows
I am the Bull of the Seven Combats
I am the Vulture on the Rock
I am a Ray of the Sun
I am the Fairest of Flowers
I am a Wild Boar in Valour
I am a Salmon in the Pool [see liner notes for "Sun in the Stream"]
I am a Lake on the Plain
I am the Skill of the Craftsman
I am a Word of Science
I am the Spear-point that gives Battle
I am the god who creates in the head of man the Fire of Thought.
Who is it that Enlightens the Assembly upon the mountain, if not I?
Who tells the ages of the moon, if not I?
Who shows the place where the sun goes to rest, if not I?
Who calls the cattle from the House of Tethra?
On whom do the cattle of Tethra smile?
Who is the god that fashions enchantments -
- the enchantment of battle and the wind of change?
The Song of Amairgen
"Leabhar Gabhala" ("Book of Invasions")
ANUNA, the Irish choral group, also has a version of this song, quite different from Enya, and more faithful to the original text. I highly recommend "Wind on Sea", the last track in their album "Invocation". Their best song, so far, IMHO. I asked for permission from Michael McGlynn, Anuna's director, to quote some of his album liner notes but he hasn't replied yet. (I hope he doesn't get mad at me - after all I'm not earning money from posting this.) Anyway, here is an excerpt:
"These mysterious runic texts were written by the ancient pagan poet Amergin Glungel. Many versions of these poems exist in Welsh and Irish, and their highly charged natural images are still potent today."
I am the wind that breathes on the sea
I am the wave, wave on the ocean,
I am the ray, the eye of the Sun
I am the tomb, cold in the darkness
I am a star, the tear of the Sun
I am a wonder, a wonder in flower.
I am the spear that cries out for blood the word of great power
I am the depths of a great pool
I am the song of the blackbird.
Who but I can cast light upon the meeting of the mountains?
Who but I will cry aloud the changes in the moon?
Who but I can find the place where hides away the Sun?
[The rest of the song comes from another poem attributed to Amergin.]
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996
From: hsarkas@earthlink.net (Harry Sarkas)
I just wanted to add to Mark Mulingbayan's recent post to the Enya mailing list concerning the inspiration for Enya's song "La Soņadora". I came across some slightly different translations of the same poem by Amairgen (also spelled Amergein?). One appears in Caitlin Matthews book "The Celtic Book of Days" (Destiny Books, 1995, p47). (The name of this book sounds familiar for some reason?). Another translation appears in a book by Jean Markale called "The Celts" (Inner Traditions, 1993, p126). It seems to be that there are many different translation of this poem. However, the essence of what emotions are inspired by this poem is still the same.
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996
From: SEAN RHEA (srhea@mail.state.tn.us)
And for those of you further interested in reading about Amergin and the Milesians, check out the book "Bard: Odyssey of the Irish" by Morgan Llewellyn.