| Loreena McKennitt – The Old Ways Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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As the composer of this beautiful and haunting song, this is what Loreena herself says about 'The Old Ways": "I spent a most haunting New Year's Eve in Doolin, County Clare, Ireland some years ago, and was moved by the antiquity of some of the celebrations. Yet I was met by deep reminders that they may be the remnants of the old world meeting the "new". - L.M. In an attempt to find full meaning in this lyric, it helps much to know that in Irish culture, the term 'the old ways' holds special meaning - to the very proud Irish people, the old ways refers to a rich and vanished history and culture, including the language, religion, writing, myth, and cultures as well. Therefore, while the lyrics suggest the memory of a lost love, on a deeper plane, they reflect the memory of the vanishing culture of a proud people - and if you have Irish blood -as I'm sure Loreena does- the concept of 'the old ways' contains an imperative that the memory buried deep within every Irish soul must, like the caged bird of Loreena's lyrics, seek release and recall. |
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