Seasons

I may be mistaken but I believe that Enya has created a similar "language" for some of her music.

I'm not aware of any conlang (constructed language) lyrics by Enya, but she sings a lot of (Irish) Gaelic, some Latin, and at least one Spanish song (La Soñadora on The Memory of Trees.)

It's probably the Gaelic you're thinking of - it does sound rather other-wordly (it sounds a lot better than it looks on a page - the spelling's preposterous!)

It's probably the Gaelic you're thinking of - it does sound rather other-wordly (it sounds a lot better than it looks on a page - the spelling's preposterous!)
You are undoubtedly right. My grandpa used to sing and play the fiddle on Saturday nights, usually after having a few. Some of it was in a strange tongue - but beautiful - and I always assumed it was Irish. He claimed he didn't remember what the words meant. I also recall my priest begin the mass with "Rath Dé ort!" [rah jay urt - I had to look it up.]

Did your grandpa go you sessions then? We have an active Trad music scene in Chicago (not that I am part of it) and not only can you probably hear some of the songs he sang, people will tell you what the songs mean.

Oh, and you know you can turn bot chats off, right? I'd miss you and all, but you can block me.

Bev: No, grandpa didn't have much time for me. He was too busy making children (20 with 4 wives) and taking care of his farm. He did like to drive my mother crazy when he would put me on his knee and call me his "wee little b*****d" - affectionately, of course. The Trad music scene sounds great. Maybe I will take it in sometime. I do get to Chicago once in a while. Thank you for the info.

Ruthie: I love you too much to turn you off. I will just have to get used to your sense of timing.

I'm not aware of any conlang (constructed language) lyrics by Enya

D'oh! Except the Sindarin she sung for the Lord of the Rings films (how did I forget that?) But that was Tolkien's invention.

I also recall my priest begin the mass with "Rath Dé ort!"

Agus leat féin!

Was that a full Gaelic mass (probably not, I guess,) or just the blessing?

Much as the spelling exasperates me, I know it would sound beautiful (http://www.irishpage.com/prayers/mass.htm).

Next time I'm over there (Ireland's a popular day trip on the ferry from here,) I must keep my eye open for any services being held.

D'oh! Except the Sindarin she sung for the Lord of the Rings films (how did I forget that?) But that was Tolkien's invention. I forgot that you forgot or I would have told you that you forgot. I didn't think of that either.

[Father Timothy blesses the communion wine] An uisce beatha seo. Oops! What would Brother Jerome say to that?

I have never been to a full Gaelic service. Once I did go to a traditional Christmas Dinner at which there was an "abbreviated" service (given in Gaelic) by a Greek Orthodox Priest who is an expert in Gaelic.

If you do get a chance to take one in, let me know about it. You guys get all the breaks; history and tradition is just an arm's length away. [sigh] I can only read about it.

[Father Timothy blesses the communion wine] An uisce beatha seo. Oops! What would Brother Jerome say to that?

He would say "Slainte!"

I have never been to a full Gaelic service. Once I did go to a traditional Christmas Dinner at which there was an "abbreviated" service (given in Gaelic) by a Greek Orthodox Priest who is an expert in Gaelic.

Lovely! I like Orthodox services - I've been to several Greek and one Russian Divine Liturgy (rather than Mass). The more smells and bells the better! I doubt you get many orthodox asthmatics though, given the huge quantities of incense they incinerate in the course of the shortest of services! (though I trust you were spared such olfactory accompaniment to the meal.)

If you do get a chance to take one in, let me know about it. You guys get all the breaks; history and tradition is just an arm's length away. [sigh] I can only read about it.

Oh, there's history and tradition an arm's length from all of us. But if you want it to be your history and tradition, you have to choose ancestors who stayed where they were while it was happening

"Shaddai" is also Hebrew. Are you sure this language isn't a compilation of words from various other languages?

"Shaddai" is also Hebrew.

Oh, that's there too. I was wondering why I couldn't get the memory of Amy Grant singing "El Shaddai" out of my head after reading that. Now I am stuck with the thought of Amy Grant singing a duet with Weird Al Yankovic. It isn't easy being me.

This is the life!

Regarding the song... according to one source, the words aren't meant to mean anything:

http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/translation/viewtopic.265.html

Relevant comment in the thread: It's the "lyrics" to Now We Are Free by Lisa Gerrard. I have since discovered that it's not an actual language at all, but rather sounds she produces (using her voice as an instument) designed to evoke an emotional response. Thanks to all for your comments, though!