Loreena McKennitt - The Bonny Swans (HQ)

[hadi15]

goosebumps!

[Raster78]

very trippy video

[sweetgypsy100]

It's all good--we should all embrace our ancestors & heritage. Being Celtic is in my soul--my fibre & essence of being.

[sweetgypsy100]

My favourite of hers....a Canadian treasure Loreena is....my Celtic pride over-flows...

[1mouse69]

@sweetgypsy100 WOW!!! that was so sad though, but if a harp was made from her,then a harp suits a beautiful swan as an instrument

[sweetgypsy100]

@1mouse69 -- Exactly!! Like a swan- a harp is soft & gentle & very elegant.

[1mouse69]

@sweetgypsy100 I guess it helps if you have Celtic blood to understand these songs, I cant do my part/ scottish roll of the tongue though, I use to be able to pick up river dancing though

[CelticWillowMoon]

@1mouse69 I'm English. Anglo Saxon. Cherokee.

[1mouse69]

@CelticWillowMoon WOW, having Indian would make it very easy to understand too. Your very lucky.

[satyagrahi1000]

me encanta tiene una voz angelical, me estremece su manera de trasmitir esa cancion, mil gracias por subir este video

[GabrielaZieglerS]

I looove this one! And I love Loreena mcKennit's musics!

[MsEcogeek]

This Is True Art

I Love How This Video Was Done Like A Tapestry Or A Painting Done by a Renaissance Master Come to Life

Loreena McKennitt Is A True Minstrel

[mostiskes]

please reload without defect on 3:00 or mark as "demo"

[Blakeire]

... one word... enchanting....................

[sstuck50]

I just love this Artist, Really brings a peaceful,sensation to mu Irish sole

[stuckinsidemyself]

I love the combination of folk music and rock music ^^D

[OmnomTheDevourer]

This song makes me think of ninjas fighting on a mountaitop

[oOSpaetzchenOo]

4 persons are pushed in the river by their sister

[JuliatheCoolest]

Loreena Mckennit is my favorite singer of all time- her songs are not my favorite, but I just love her voice so much. Wow!

[Bruce99100]

Tapastries come to life and a glimpse of the colors of heaven.

[holadaysrock11]

This makes me cry...

[wolfdream56]

I will always love Loreena Mckennitt, and this song is one of my favorites by her!

[redraven272]

has anyone noticed that at 2:59 it does a little skip it kinda messed me up

[Greim]

3 people were drop into a river and drowned.

[anibaldishottabwoy]

just beautifulllll

[noeismine]

LOREENA MCKENNITT is amaaaaazing,i know her since like20 years ago and I still like her like the fisrt time.This is one of her best song,apart from the two trees,Dante-s prayer,Kellswater,The stolen child,under a phrygian sky,etc,etc....

[dugandean]

There are several versions of the Bonny Swans song (and story).

[YessirMadame]

this woman is everything that is beautiful and perfect.

[kristalix06]

I love this Singer :)

Great Song :)

[MrAvocate]

never heard like this song with this angel voice..

one of my best songs

[zachrembrandt1978]

ah fuck dat shes shit innit,rap is da bomb

[TheEonge]

@zachrembrandt1978 trolololol

[PianoMusicMageLucky7]

@zachrembrandt1978

Learn to type, I don't even understand what you're trying to say. o.O

[MrJuno6]

@Phr33dOm. hmm no, its a problem at the download end. There is a glitch. Fantastic song.

[MrJuno6]

Guitar is sharp, almost ruins the song. Am I the only one who hear it ?

[bearassed]

Great video and song but at 2:56 there is a glitch in it.

[Phr33d0m]

@bearassed hmm I can't see this 'glitch', maybe it's a problem from your end?

Gorgeous song.

[Verecundus2]

The video itself is absolutely gorgeous. <3

[EvenHidden]

One of my favorite songs ever.

[guzsaj]

She has a frighteningly beautiful voice.

[poetrygirl450]

vote up if you think loreena mckennitt has the most beatiful voice

[meggy20102010]

sehr schön !!!

[mlh244]

Anyone have any recommendations for songs/artists like this...with the more traditional style meets electric guitar/contemporary sound? The contrast is amazing...

[grimdimly]

@mlh244 If your'e not familiar with them already check out Dead Can Dance. They are no more sadly, but one of their main contributor's Lisa Gerrard has a solo career still going. She does film scoring as well. Enigma is another artist that does this sort of thing fairly well.

[bananawick]

Haha sorry, did not mean to put this video up, and I have no idea how to take it down. The guy that the dead sister fell in love with was SOOOO hot!! Yum.

[thuyvy1402]

where are the clothes and hair style of the women in this music video wearing from? Is it Swedish? Scottish? they are beautiful!

[Toddthedidger]

@thuyvy1402

from the local ren fair!

[Silas19311]

@thuyvy1402 Its celtic clothing

[sealforvr]

@thuyvy1402 14th and 15th century Italy and France. The more fabric you wore and the brighter the colors, the more wealthy you were. The "hats' the men are wearing are actually a third sleeve, since sleeves were the most difficult to make and cost the most. Loreena says she based the look of the video on the "Unicorn Tapestries" in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.

[Dobishiro123]

3 fckin pricks who's dont understand what is good music

[scotts430]

Lol.. and one of the 3morons said " rap is da bomb"... laughable@Dobishiro123

[dimosthenis76]

This is how the elves would play if they were here nowdays!!!!Majestic,sorrowfull­,poetic....Long live Loreena!

[sapphire60s]

absolutely beautiful song. but the 'property of ..........' in almost the middle of the clip very annoying. Why couldn't it have been put down and towards one corner. Again, very annoying.

[alexis13thirteen]

This is one of the more beautiful versions of this song. Meav also does it, called The Wicked Sister.

[Siaha112]

Possibly Loreena's best song, ever.

[BenedictRoend]

I was very pleased to find that this song had a video! This is fantastic!

[MartialArt3000]

Man kann Ihre Musik nur lieben...man kann Loreena McKennitt nur lieben.

[silverwolf5145]

She's lying. One of the seniors at my school wrote a play about it, and Eleanor is a compulsive liar.

[richardhanna0]

God bless you Loreena Mckennitt you are a treasure.

[nikkyjackson]

she is amazing

[MySilenzio]

jack.... the same exact feel...

[JackStraw65]

This song absolutely blew me away the first time I heard it. Breathtaking, transcendant, otherworldly, angelic. And the electric guitar kicks ass!

[The23111958]

Una delle poesie di Yeats, The Two Trees, è stata musicata da Loreena McKennitt ed inserita nel suo album The Mask and Mirror

[revdrjim]

this is why kids should learn to swim

[moviedirectorliol]

@revdrjim LOL that was awesome. It is an in credible song by a wonderfully voiced singer though.

[LDKBBAB]

I keep waiting for Shrek to pop out....

[willy92507]

@LDKBBAB LOL!!!

[IoOrdineDisordine]

the song skips

[Pnimelover]

This music is REALLY something..its unexplainable how it makes you feel.. it makes me feel alive, and happy.makes me wanna go twirling around the room. xp

[NaturesAdmiral]

This song is breathtaking to say the least, it's unfortunate that so many blow off her fabulous gift.

Does anyone else think that she has a very old style grace and beauty, which is accentuated by the old fashioned dress she wears in this song?

[ModernFrench]

A true artist.

[GhostofACurse]

Is this based on Twa Sisters?

[hmr28]

@GhostofACurse

It is based off a few different Child's ballads, all with the same basic formula good sister, bad sister kills her, takes good sister's man and is found out. There is a pretty extensive wicki link you can find for the origins of the song if you search "Twa sisters", cruel sister, The miller and the king's daugher...etc.

[dabedzia]

My favorite music by Loreena, although I share some confusion about the text. When is Her next concert in Europe? Anybody knows?

[bellaKohler]

Does anyone else realize that this video skips a little more than a verse in the song. Does it right after the Harper makes her into a harp. It's missing: "He brought it to her father's hall hey ho and a bonny o There was the court, assembled all the swans swims bonny o He laid the harp upon the stone hey ho and a bonny o And straight it began to play lone the swans swims bonny o There does sit my father the King hey ho and a bonny o And yonder sits..."

[NaturesAdmiral]

@bellaKohler I noticed it as well,

[RosaleeCarten99]

mp3iffy works again wooohoooo awesome - google mp3iffy

[stylimeili]

wonderfull :) so beautyfull

[GoodVibesOfficial]

♪♫♥ !

[Iceclimbers90]

"Oh sister, oh sister, pray lend me your hand

with a hey ho a bonny o

And I will give you house and land

the swans swim so bonny o

I'll give you neither hand nor glove

with a hey ho a bonny o

Unless you give me your own true love

the swans swim so bonny o"

[AnonymousXIII]

I've always found this version of the song to be confusing.

At the beginning, the father of the three daughters is a farmer, but by the end he's a king.

And then, at the beginning, there are three sisters walking by the river, but only the eldest is recriminated for letting the youngest drown.

There's a version called Two Sisters, performed by the Minstrels of Mayhem, which I rather prefer. It's got a more melancholy feel to it too, I think.

[tkrokli]

@AnonymousXIII Good point, this song is actually a mix of several versions of the theme for "Two Sisters". Wikipedia has an article called "The Twa Sisters" (medieval spelling) explaining both the bit about its origins and also has a paragraph about Loreena McKennitt's song being a pastiche of several traditional variants of the ballad.

[Elvinauk]

@tkrokli Pentangle did a version called "Cruel Sister" which is quite different but same story more or less.Both great songs

[LordYandros]

@AnonymousXIII

This is the single edit, the original runs over 7 minutes and I'm sure the lyrics which were edited out provide the missing story.

[Uranija28]

Nice...

[solaceinsorrow]

She IS  the best!!

[Buckfast2003]

Great song!!! Nice video!!!

[justmegogutzu]

Special.

[chanytube]

quinlanroad thanks for posting this beautiful song!

[skweltch]

Stunning,

[katiesmithification]

God she is amazing...totally amazing1

[BeautyinDiatoms]

Such a sad story, sung by a beautiful voice and sorrowful strings...

[LadyMoondancer]

I love her music

[AnaFitzBeaumont]

Yes, she is wonderful.

[FuxiSmile]

Loreena you are wonderful,

freedom to the soul of your fiancé

and your both friends.

[ElizzInWonderland]

i luv to sing this song

so beautiful

[DuukTube]

Thank you Loreena!

Too bad the song is not complete. It is however different from the album track: cool.

I never saw the video before. I have several albums and I am dying to attend a live show. When will you be touring in Europe again?

[oldwaysmusic]

i wish this version was the full version of the song. it's way too short.

[beazyboots]

such perfection in music is seldom heard...thanks.

[winterdreams80]

Not only is this one of my favorite songs, the video is simply stunning ! Thank you Loreena for contributing your talent to the magical world of music. Here's wishing you continuing success with all your future albums ! Your last Christmas CD was fantastic by the way !

Cheers from the East Coast !!

[lilibet939]

this music never grows old, I have heard it more times than I can remember yet it is always as delightful as the first time I discovered it

[LoveDance00000]

I love it.........

[ZanthiaKhala]

really awesome!

[anniebananie354]

A classic. Love both the vid and song..very creative. Thanks

[Delgift]

Very nice video and song. I first listened to the Nights from Alhambra live version, the passion she shows in that performance makes me feel good.

[maryane06]

very nice!!!!!!!!!

[asands123]

i like the end..her false sister anne's face turns into a skelteon..or so it looks like

[jheck0345]

Where can we get this Burnadet story? Sounds interesting. Unfamiliar with it. Thanks. I find Loreena's voice enchanting and enjoy the classical allusions.

[MakQueenMaryJ]

magical voice.... <3

[jheck0345]

First stanza/English

A farmer there lived in the north country

a hey ho bonny o

And he had daughters one, two, and three

The swans swim so bonny o

The daughters walked by the river's brim

a hey ho bonny o

The eldest pushed the youngest in

The swans swim so bonny o

And it wasn't an accident. Big sis wants her boyfriend. Great song.

[poorkinghaggard]

There are more similarities between this song and the folk story "Burnadet and the Flower of Life" than the story upon which Quinlan Road says it was based.

[jheck0345]

Loreena is a world treasure. Never heard a CD of hers I didn't like. Never goes stale. From Canada originally. Crisp Celtic with some Mideast/Spanish overtones. Most cool ; in a class by itself.

[bfhdsa]

great

[CapitanoNemo89]

Un testo fantastico...

Wow! What a lyrics!

[fghloiaser]

"the swan swim so bonny o"....amazing

i want to see a loreena's show

[12414523525645747856]

linda ,maravilhosa, a lorena é a deusa do new age.

[SDG1750]

oh gosh the lyrics are sooo creepy. wow. lol

[kennethmcalpin]

Impresionante =)!

[Kah741]

I love her so much! *-*

[krazysk8rgirl]

not meaning to sound like an idiot, but what story is this song centered around? is it the story of the boleyn sisters?

[buidseach]

based on the folk song the cruel sister

[nikoxx79]

Please let me know much more about this folk song: it seems so interesting

[withintemptation71]

Amazing ! I love it

[bunniesareevil123]

"And there does sit my false sister, Anne. Hey ho, and me bonny go, Who drowned me for the sake of a man. The swans swim so bonny oh!"

--Epicness line. That is truly the saddest part of the entire song.

[HighDaylightWalker]

I agree :/

[ishvareya]

Yea ... =[

[ewcalipse]

The drums really drive the intensity of that line into your soul... tis good.

[randomgirl734]

@bunniesareevil123 i agree...tis a haunting melody with a mournful message> absolutely breathtaking!

[greenhawk46]

typical Loreena, haunting, magical, beautiful [just like her!] slan, Jim

[Silence12]

This is the most wonderful video I have seen in my entire life!

[LittleEmoFreaks]

This is THE BEST song of her...

[plumbingoni]

@LittleEmoFreaks no way bonny portmore by far

[Sarbanda]

@LittleEmoFreaks I completely agree with you! :-)

[ZetteSue]

Am I the only who notices it skips at 3:00? Just an observation. Good video otherwise.

[Chealder]

Nope, you're not. Also the beginning is shorters than usual. The CD recording is about 7:20 and here it's (only) 3:54. Still a lovely and wonderful song though ^^

[xXoYuukiCrossoXx]

i never did understand why she sung the official version shorter. There;s no real way to trim the story itself. It makes me sad that loreena sings it live so short.

[sgtcrab1]

@xXoYuukiCrossoXx You cannot get airplay fora seven minute song is why.

[wayah11]

The old folk story takes on new life...an ultimate story of transformation and midieval revenge.

[floooble3]

I love Loreena McKennitt.

<3

[lilmetalfreak]

yaa me 2 <3

[tittaFloppe]

Count me in /)(^_^)/)

[littlemissfirebird]

I love this song, it's wonderful. You have a beautiful voice Loreena. I'm a big fan.

[Leyen101]

Muy bonito ^^, pero faltan escenas en el video. Ojalá pudiera verse completo...

[redsilka]

thanks and greeetings from germany for the fantastic music

lg

silke

[margielizabeth]

exelente tema................loreena Mckennit.

[UnfoldingWings]

i love this song so much!!! <3

[lilianaynicolas]

un exelente tema , muy bueno.

muy a tono

[maxcranfan]

I love the lyrics in this song...Great story

Loreena Mckennitt I LOVE YOU!

[amabilis77]

same, its the poetic lyrics that really attracted me to the song.....i love the last part......

'And there sits my false sister Anne

....who drowned me for the sake of a man'

[Outbackmaster72]

This song is defintely very special. I never get bored hearing it like many other songs. Thanx 4 the upload.

[rogerstan]

I first heard this song 30,000 feet in the air on a flight to Vancover from Sydney. I was blown away. Since then I have played it over a thousand times. It is a mansterpiece in music that propels one into a different time and place. I believe that the original ballard is ancient and gothic.

[imoque]

As always: Absolutely Incredible

Takes you to other places: Thanks Loreena

[ErinStaley]

Does anyone else realize that this video skips a little more than a verse in the song. Does it right after the Harper makes her into a harp. It's missing: "He brought it to her father's hall hey ho and a bonny o There was the court, assembled all the swans swims bonny o He laid the harp upon the stone hey ho and a bonny o And straight it began to play lone the swans swims bonny o There does sit my father the King hey ho and a bonny o And yonder sits..."

[amabilis77]

REALYL! That's my FAVOURTIE verse in the whole song....ugh :(

[stillwaterguy04]

Pleassssssssssssssssssse, Loreena, go back to your Celtic roots and make more music like this and MUMMER'S DANCE.

[cabs55]

hermosa cancion

[CelticMusings]

Of all of her songs I think this will always be at the top for me, I fell in love with it in in 2005 and have not yet grown "tired" of it. Such magical and tragic story told by the voice of a faerie.

PS I must make it clear that having a "favourite" song by Loreena is next to impossible, because all of her music is so phenomenal I only use "favourite" in reference to one of her songs at a time because they are all my favs!

Blessings!

)O(

[zagrossian]

its wonderfull. awesome

[Axanono]

AWESOME

[SSLS18]

red-hair queen.

what a voice potential!

[BullyThePucky]

Voice potential? She's been a recording artist for over 20 years now, with quite a few albums (and her own label, Quinlan Road) and a US top 40 song under her belt. I'm reasonably certain that she's reached whatever potential she has by now.

[disorder269]

She is the elf queen.

[SigmaVersusOmicron]

That is such a wonderful song!

[AgentxBitexMe]

It is a beautiful song;; though there is still something that does not make sense to me: if the daughters are daughters of a farmer in the north country, how (or why) does her parentage suddenly become royal in the end? I feel like I'm missing some backstory. Does anyone know?

[thenekowithwings]

Because the man that her sister drowned her for is William, son of the king. Potential father-in-law. "And by him William, sweet and true. And there does sit my false sister Anne, who drowned me for the sake of a man."

[Supernaturalbabe18]

in one explanation of the song I read that when she sings about the farmer it is a metaphor for the King because he is a farmer of his people at least that is what I read. And you are right this song is GORGEOUS!

[Euroboyhot]

it's just the best Celtic music that she does. Nothing more.

[123rem5]

con Loreena è più bello questo mondo, lei riesce a colorarlo intensamente, lei è sogno, è l'arobaleno dentro la tempesta, è la gioia la contemplazione, l'amore..non amo creare miti, non amo l'esaltazione, il fanatismo, con Loreena mi concedo un'eccezione perchè la merita con la sua umiltà, umanità che sono segni di grandezza, ecc. ecc.

[TomDeLongeROCKS21]

ah, Loreena McKennitt, some of the most purest Wiccan music ive heard, in a very long time. Very good things come into mind when you hear this song no?? mhm. well, oh, the moon is almost Full. What are you going to do for this magickal Esbat??

Blessed Be,

Love and Peace,

Gabe.

[foulestwitch]

wicca is bullshit. try reading some anthropolgy and the history of theology. Tur Loreena Mckennitt is a music goddess and her knowledge of the old ways are prevalent in her lyrics but im sure she is smart enough to know that wicca is crap, why dont you study some more then post some intelligable comments rather then repeating shit youve heard others say and read from those little wicca kits you get at the book store.

[foulestwitch]

*TRUE

[TomDeLongeROCKS21]

aha. well, everyone has the right to think what they want. and i have been Wiccan for 6 years, and wicca has been great for me, although it seems you dont like it, and thats okay. I just hope you at least tried to understand our old ways before just bagging on it. well, anywho. im busy studing the Craft, so lay...

Blessed Be,

Love and Peace,

Gabe.

I have learned more about the "old ways" reading Dominique Venner rather than Wicca stuff. Wicca seems to be a hotchpotch of different esoteric stuffs, not necessarily devoid of interest, but a lot of th