Many of you have requested lyrics for Afro Celt songs. We’ve also included some notes that may be of interest, as well as quotes from the Afro Celts on a few of the songs. A few words of explanation respecting the song lyrics in Malinke or Mandingue.  Malinke is a language spoken by people in the West African countries of Guinea, Gambia, Mali, Senegal and Mauritania. It is difficult to do direct translations of Malinke into English and, therefore, the translations mostly provide information regarding what the songs are about. Special thanks are extended to Mariam Kouyate, N'Faly's sister, for her invaluable role in explaining the Malinke lyrics and N'Faly's ideas behind these songs.

Volume 5: Anatomic

When I Still Needed You

Dorothee Munyaneza sings in Kinyarwanda.  Dorothee's powerful vocal performance draws on her experience involving the genocide in Rwanda.  Dorothee was featured on the soundtrack to the movie Hotel Rwanda.  People may also be interested in the new book by Paul Rusesabagina, the man whose heroic acts of courage inspired the film.

Don't forget me
Even though you're gone

They took you away when you were still young
We needed to get to know each other

They took you away when you were still young
We still needed to get to know each other
They took you away when you were still young
When I still needed you.

Don't forget me
Even though you're gone
Gone, gone, gone

We grew up together
We loved each other
There, where we lived
In Gikondo
We shared everything
Even our secrets
Because we were friends
Soulmates

And now they've taken you away
When it was still too early
So now my friend
Let me ask you this
So now my friend

My Secret Bliss (Iarla duet with Sevara)

Sevara sings in Uzbeki. We do not have a translation of those lyrics.

Nach dtann tu m cheann
An nach dteann s m chroi

Return like children
We stumble
Into the sun
Into the sun
Into the sun

Return like children
We stumble

We found a reason
Together
We stare into the sun

Mojave (Gaelic chant)

Biodh an fiadhach dubh leat
Biodh an fiolar ann
Biodh an fiadhach dubh leat
An fiolar donn
An fiadhach dubh
An fiolar fiadhain
An fiadhach dubh
An fiolar fiadhain

Beautiful Rain

In this golden age, indifference reigns
I lay down my head
My pillow the sidewalk
I hear the dance of rain

On the empty streets, past cathedral spires
And the angels wings before dawn
Cross the empty fields and silent shires
This is how I hear you

Call - calling, beautiful rain
Fall - falling, call me again

In this olden world
Harder than a gemstone would it be to change
Once a youthful garden now her flowers fade
And her soul hardens

Her skies rage and her babies won't age
And history falls hard from the page

Fall falling, beautiful rain
Call calling, call me again

Mother

These are Iarla's English lyrics only. Dorothee sings in Kinyarwanda.

Sun, sun goes down
There is no pain here
Beside her
Beside her

Somewhere deeper I hear her
As from a dream
And it's all that I can keep
Of what might have been

I've fallen down and I'm in your space
And I know that the time has come
To feel your grace

Seed

Seed

The original working title of the song "Seed" was the Malinke word "wulaba" which means "forest."  In this song, NFaly speaks of the importance of the forest, our own relative insignificance on the planet and the importance of respecting the earth.  It is a warning to people that if we don't protect the earth, everything will die and the birds will cry rather than sing.

Rise Above It

Cracking walls inside my head
With a bottle full of rain
I promised to the coaster
I wouldn’t tear it up again

Flick a peanut, break a glass
I wish I didn’t sleep at Mass
And everything is closing up
Yet again I come in last

I saw it in a dream
It was another time
Everything was blue
Everything was fine

And you were always there
And I could see clear
I was always yours
You were always mine

Rise above it
Rise above it
Rise above it

I see her on the ceiling
She’s staring down in her gown
I had to make allowances
Between my love and going out

Now everything is closing up
The last call is well asleep
At gigs I dance with a Blue Nun
Now heartburn is going cheap

I saw it in a dream
It was another time
And everything was true
Everything sublime

You were always there
And I could see clear
I was always yours
You were always mine

Rise above it
Rise above it
Rise above it

I saw it in a dream
It was another time
Everything was true
Everything sublime

You were always there
And I could see clear
I was always yours
You were always mine

Rise above it

I wouldn’t tear it up again

Notes: Special thanks to Simon for explaining the line about dancing with a "Blue Nun" at gigs - - a concept that was lost on me due to my cultural ignorance of the ways that certain young adolescents in Europe get drunk.  "Blue Nun" is a very cheap Riesling wine from Germany." Now heart burn is going cheap" is the reward for dancing at gigs with a "blue nun."

All Remains

Emotion inside her, growing
A murmur, a clear mist, a river
A house where the hillside is sleeping

All remains
The hurt you hold just melts away

Fly the blue horizon
I see across and turn into the sky
Calling out, it’s drifting out of view

All remains
The hurt you hold just melts away

Notes: Another one of Simon's favorite which he describes as "Iarla's greatest vocal moment yet".

Volume 3: Further In Time

WHEN YOU'RE FALLING

Everyday, you crawl into the night
A fallen angel, with your wings set alight
When you hit the ground
Everything turns to blue
I can't get through the smoke
That's surrounding you

Cause when you’re falling
I can’t tell which way is down
And when you’re screaming
Somehow I don't hear a sound
And when you're seeing things
Then your feet don’t touch the ground
Cause when you're falling
I can't tell which way is down

I can see through the clouds
I can walk right through the walls
Hang me off the ceiling
But I can't take the fall
Should have crossed the river
But I may get swept away
Out there on the water
You can still see me wave

Cause when you're falling
I can't tell which way is down
When you're falling
I can't tell which way is down
I keep seeing all those things
My feet don't touch the ground

Cause when you’re falling
I can’t tell which way is down
And when you’re screaming
Somehow I don't hear a sound
And when you're seeing things
Then your feet don’t touch the ground

Cause when you're falling
I can't tell which way is down

LIFE BEGIN AGAIN

This is the day and the hour
The time when the changing begins
The land and the sky fallen silent

Quiet moves o’er the plain
Quiet moves o’er the plain

The silence moves over the plain

The land and sky are quiet

The heart is beating within
Her song echoes a calling

For life to begin again
For life to begin again

GO ON THROUGH

I’ve been thinking about this love
I’m thinking about it
I’m thinking about this love
So hard, so hard
 
I’ve been thinking about my life
And how it’s going to turn
And all I really want to do
Is find a way to go on through

And all I really want to do now
Is find a way to go on through

So out on the tide we go
Out on it
So out on the highest waves
So high, so high

So out on the tide we go
Knowing it will turn
And all I really want to do
Is find a way to go on through

And all I really want to do now
Is find a way to go on through
And all I really want to do
All I really want to do
Is find a way to go on through
Find a way to go on through

PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY

When I’m traveling far from home
On the wide horizon
I can feel you’re still around
And the dream overtakes me

Then I know, you’ll stay in this moment
We’ll go where it’s flowing
You’ll be what you want to be
Right here, with me

When I’m out here on my own
And it all cuts through me
I see you’re safe alone
Ah, then it hits me

And I know, you’re here in this moment
Right where it’s flowing
You are what you want to be
Right here, with me

Stay in this moment
Go where it’s flowing
You are what you want to be
Right here, with me . . . with me . . . with me. . .

ONWARDS

In this lovely, lulling song, the word that N'Faly basically repeats is "koumamagnin" which in Malinke means talk or language.  In this song, N'Faly conveys that words and language can be a bad and dangerous thing if not used wisely.  Words can lead to war, death, the end of romantic relationships and cause division between people.  Therefore, words should be used in a cautionary way.  Words and language can also be beautiful if used wisely and with care.  The Griots are the storytellers of their tribes and in their bardic role pass on the history of their people orally from one generation to the next.  The Griots really control words and talk, in a sense, by owning the stories and the histories of generations of people as their caste and responsibility.  Even today, the vastness of the connections and the knowledge of the people of West Africa is attributable to the Griots. So, "koumamagnin" is a concept taken very seriously by the Griots and people of West Africa

Volume 2: Release

RELEASE

Don’t think you can’t see me

Don’t argue amongst yourselves
Because of the loss of me
I’m sitting amongst yourselves
Don’t think you can’t see me

Don’t argue amongst yourselves
Because of the loss of me
I haven’t gone anywhere
But out of my body

Reach out and you’ll touch me
Make effort to speak to me
Call out and you’ll hear me
Be happy for me

Don’t argue amongst yourselves
Because of the loss of me
I haven’t gone anywhere
But out of my body

Reach out and you’ll touch me
Make effort to speak to me
Call out and you’ll hear me
Be happy for me

Reach out and you’ll touch me
Make effort to speak to me
Call out and you’ll hear me
Be happy for me

Notes: This is one of Simon's top Afro Celt songs.  He describes it as "Proof of the healing powers of music and Sinead's amazing shamanic qualities. A gift."  In this song, founding Afro Celt member Jo Bruce (Jonas Asher Bruce, 9 February 1968 - 8 October 1997), who passed away from a massive asthma attack, is speaking to the band.  With the help of Sinead O'Connor, it was the last song written for Volume 2, provided the inspiration for the title of the CD "Release" and a healing force for the band after the tragic loss of Jo Bruce.  Iarla and James speak about the recording of this song in their June 2, 1999 interview with Nic Harcourt on KCRW's program "Morning Becomes Eclectic".

EIREANN

An gcuirfea fios orm / Would you search me out
Am mbeadh aithne gat orm / Would you recognize me
M’uisci, croi gach crann /  My waters, the heart of every tree
An gcuirfea fios orm / Would you look for me

N’na Kandje . . . barika . . sondon baya gbelemande . . ah . . .
Ikan soron kanke djede wolodi . . .barika bilatomandi ha
Kiyensoron de kan  n’ke
Diede wolodi . . dununya . . . sodon baya gbelemande
Eh nana Kandje fiye dinyesa

Chuiris cros I lar an bhothair dom / You placed a sign on the road to guide me
Lamh na gcarad in am a ghatair dom / A hand of friendship in a time of need
Feach doimhin isteach id shuile gorm / I look deep into your blue eyes

Eireann, Eireann /  Ireland, Ireland

Notes: This is the first song written for Volume 2: Release and, according to Iarla, a song in which "women really love the groove."  It is one of Martin Russell's favorites and one he describes as providing "the creative motivation to keep going" after Jo's tragic death.  It is also one of Mass' favorites.

RIDING THE WAVES

As one might deduce solely by the music, the lyrics to "Riding the Waves" are just an invitation to dance and play with the musicians.

AMBER

B’fhearr liom bheith ag scriobh/ I would rather write
Mar gheall ar solas an lae / About the nature and character of daylight
Na’ behith ag cur sios / Than to describe
Ar miant mo chroi / The yearnings of my heart
B’fhearr liom bheith a siul / I would instead, walk
San bhfoiris gle / The illuminated forest

Rain becomes silver
Leave turn to gold

B’fhearr liom feachaint siar /I would rather look back
Is bheith ag eitilt san aer / And fly through the air
Na’ behith I cgonai troid / Than to always fight
In aghaidh an saol  / Against the world
B’fhearr liom bheith im’ leanbh / Instead of this I would be a child
San aoibhneas gie / In intense happiness

Rain becomes silver
Leave turn to gold
Cloth become amber
Wind turn to snow

B’fhearr liom lui ar thalahm / I would rather lie on the ground
Is bheith a stanadh ar an re / And gaze at the heavens
Na’ behith feachaint sios uaim / Than to look down
Ar dath an chre /  At the colour of the earth
B’fhearr liom bheith ag cogar / Instead, I would whisper
Le ceol na n-ean / The song of birds

Mere, soeur . . . la guere n’est pas bonne / Mother, sister . . . war is not a good thing
Gens du monde la guere n’a que des vaincus / People of the world, war has only losers
Simple orguell de l’homme pour montrer sa capacite en detruisant son prochain /
The simple pride of men to demonstrate their power whilst destroying their brothers

Notes:  This beautiful song is a runner up favorite of the band's.
 
I THINK OF

Chuamar’ na sios go inneall an chre / We went down to the engine of the earth
Chuamar’ na sios go imeall an bhri / We went down to the edge of meaning
Chuamar’ na sios go preamhancha an tsaoil / We went down to the roots of experience

D’oscail mo schull / My eyes were opened
D’ardaigh mo chroi / My heart was lifted
D’athuraigh an bhri / All sense was twisted
Is dfhagfadh me go buan/ And I was left forever wounded

Cuimhnim ar mo m’hathair / I think of my mother
Cuimhnim ar mo m’athair / I think of my father
Cuimhnim ar na deithe / I think of the gods

Cuimhnim ar mo m’hathair / I think of my mother
Cuimhnim ar mo m’athair / I think of my father
Cuimhnim ar mo cheile / I think of my woman

Volume 1: Sound Magic

INION

Inion daoire
Ni mise doras dod mhuintir
Lasta an saol, Glasta gan bhaol

Da mbrisfeadh drom an tsleibhe

No fiu amhain da ndo thadh
Dearg an chre

A inion daoire
Ni mise doras dod mhuintir

Lasta an saol
Glasta gan bhaol.

DAUGHTER (English translation of Inion)

Daughter of the herdsman
I am not the gateway to your people
Life is over
Locked away forever

Should the mountains back break
Or even the red earth burn

Still I cannot be a doorway

Life is over
Locked away forever