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.
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.