THE OLD WAYS (Loreena McKennitt)

If a favorite absolutely has to be singled out, then this is likely my all-time favorite song by a truly exceptional Canadian musical artist, Loreena McKennitt. It tells the bitter-sweet tale of a young woman strolling along the rugged Irish coastline, just as dusk is turning into night, and she chances to encounter the restless spirit of her long-lost lover. I've always had the sense that he must've lost his life out at sea somehow or other, hence her feeling continually drawn to the shoreline in an effort to feel a little closer to him. Presumably, her grief had been so intense for so long, it miraculously called him back from beyond the grave for one more evening together. And upon his departure, the closing lines might be interpreted (or at least it is by me) as her all-consuming impulse to fling herself into the turbulent sea, so that her spirit might join his.

"THE OLD WAYS"

The pounding sea is calling me home, home to you.
The pounding sea is calling me home, home to you.

On a dark new year's night
on the west coast of Clare
I heard your voice... singing.
Your eyes danced the song,
your hands played the tune.
T'was a vision before me.

We left the music behind and the dance carried on
as we stole away to the seashore
and smelt the brine, felt the wind in our hair
and with sadness you paused.

Suddenly, I knew that you'd have to go.
Your world was not mine, your eyes told me so.
Yet it was there I felt the crossroads of time
and I wondered... why?

As we cast our gaze on the tumbling sea,
a vision came o'er me,
of thundering hooves and beating wings
in the clouds above.

Turning to go, I heard you call out my name.
You were like a bird in a cage, spreading its
wings to fly.
"The old ways are lost...", you sang as you flew
and I wondered... why?

The thundering waves are calling me home, home to you.
The pounding sea is calling me home, home to you.

The thundering waves are calling me home, home to you.
The pounding sea is calling me home, home to you.

The thundering waves are calling me home, home to you.
The pounding sea is calling me home, home to you.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• loreena
• mckennitt
• celtic
• mythology

[jarabaa]

The best version of this on Youtube. Beautiful images - you actually have some pounding waves, winged horses - and even some men - whereas other people prefer images of melancholy girls. Is the explanation you give your own - or Loreen McKennitt's? It's very interesting, anyhow. But what do the hooves and wings belong to? Is she addressing a spirit - or a real musician, with whom she steals away (only to realise that for some reason connected with the "old ways", they cannot be together)?

[gothling1955]

@jarabaa Thanks, that's kind of you to say. I've always been one to listen to song lyrics, and that certainly played a part in the way I constructed the visuals. As for the interpretation inquiry, I've never heard Loreena speak about any lyrical meanings, those conclusions I posted, I formed on my own. But I'm a believer in allowing others to form their own conclusions, my take on it is by no means written in stone. The questions you posed were quite thought-provoking, something to think about.

[Clematisian]

……. a beyond awesome treatment, gothling1955 … this made me break down during her Radio City Music Hall gig … this & She Moves Through the Fair … I hope you like this gem of a ditty as much as I do, Lori … (•8-D

[gothling1955]

@Clematisian Oh yes, I'm quite fond of Loreena's version of "She Moved Through The Fair" (it really outshines so many other renditions by countless other artists, at least in my view), and I'm quite partial to "Stolen Child" as well. How wonderful that you were able to attend her Radio City Music Hall concert, that had to have been vastly memorable. Loreena really is an exceptionally splendid live performer. Thank you for the nice compliment, and also thanks just for watching. ;-)

[ANTon1nARTaud]

i totally agree with thee...this is my all time favorite from loreena...and oh these lyrics...are so vibrant....i've lived those lyrics years ago....and it so hurts....

[gothling1955]

@ANTon1nARTaud How very true, those lyrics are utterly heart-breaking. And yes, this song does have a powerful way of sparking certain memories & emotions from our pasts. Still, there's also a certain kind of beauty in it, despite the sadness. Thanks so much for watching!

[gothling1955]

@Aquachick70 You're right, it's so beautiful, and it really is quite haunting -- which is probably what I like most about it. Thanks for watching!

[Aquachick70]

Another beautiful and haunting song . . .

[cooler52er]

Such mystical music and video....well done

[torrentXofXdarkness]

I like this version because of the intro :)