Ebudae

Continuing what Emily Solo wrote, here is what Roma Ryan herself has to say of the song:

This piece is an interesting piece for me. There are two aspects to this song. The idea for Enya and Nicky was one of rhythm, one loosely based on the rhythm of looms, while weaving. So the essence of the song for Nicky and Enya was rhythm as opposed to meaning, and although they gave me the sounds they wanted and I put my own meaning to them. So, the lyrics however, do have meaning for us. I was very much inspired by the story of a poet who learnt Persian. He learnt the language from a Sea Captain who had sojourned in his city for a while. The Captain, in time, had to leave. But the poet continued writing in this new language he had just mastered only to discover, to his horror, that he was not writing in Persian at all. In fact he was not writing in any known language. He was writing in a language that only he understood, for the captain had, in time, forgotten all their conversations. I loved the idea that he was the only one in the world who could understand what was written, and that is why the lyrics for this song have never appeared, other than the chorus which is in Irish, and which can be understood.

Even without knowing what the lyrics mean, this song is mystically awe-inspiring. It gives me impressions of being transcended to an ethereal dimension.

Ebudæ Irish Gaelic Amharc, mná ag obair lá 's mall san oích', Ceolann siad ar laetha geal, a bhí, Bealach fada anonn 's anall a chóich'.

Translation: Look, women working by day and late at night, They sing of bright days that were, A long way back and forth forever.

1. The Hebrides, or Western Isles, of Scotland were known as the Hebudæ or the Ebudæ in ancient times. The name is of Latin origin, appearing on ancient maps of Roman Britain.

2. This song is loosely based on the traditional "waulking songs" sung by women and used when fulling cloth. Waulking songs are unique to the Outer Hebrides.

This information is all from pathname.com/enya/shepherd_moons.html

This song is not backwards. It is in Irish, or what you would know as Gaelic.

Enya herself said in an interview or something (I can't recall where) that Ebudae was created from the styles of whistle-while-you-work type songs, like women sing while working around the house and tending to daily business.

The idea of women singing while they work is nearly universal... in Ireland, Scotland, America, China, Germany, Poland, etc... It's easy to imagine that in my head when I listen to this song... a mother with her hair in a bun and a plain-looking dress humming a tune to herself as she scrubs a garment against a washboard as her children play nearby.

ever suspect it might be in reverse? i did. so i reversed the song, and at different intervals in time i hear these phrases:

"oh, what did he do?" "do you believe me, love?" "i would finally lock the door, wouldn't i?" "you love me." "you with me?" "should -or- she would cry." "she'd do something you wouldn't do." "and even with me, she would cry."

[this is after the first "Ahh..."] "come out in the sun, it's time for love" (can't understand the second line.) "feel the soft sound like a hound"

some parts are repeated, like "oh, what did he do?" but really, i don't really understand the meaning. it's just really interesting how this is.