Album version 4:07 English 2000

Liner notes

Tells of lovers lying in the long grass. Perhaps the girl is called Flora. Perhaps the "flora" in the song are the flowers they are surrounded by. Perhaps it is about the Goddess of flowers, Flora.

The Song was inspired by the various legends from classical mythology given to flowers. The "tears from Persia" are the Persian Iris. They are the tears of the Mourning Iris taken from the legend of Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, the Goddess of the Corn. Persephone was abducted by Hades, and was made to spend six months of each year in the underworld with him (hence winter) and the other six months on earth (hence summer). Ah, but who is the one the moon loves?
notes by Roma Ryan
Only Time: The Collection, 2002

Quotes about the song

Enya: "Flora’s Secret, that was totally a theme inspired by Roma listening to the melody and the arrangement as it was progressing. She thought this was a very positive, lively piece of music, and when she came with the lyrics and the title, I immediately asked, like everyone has been asking me, "What is Flora’s secret?" She told me that Flora is the girl’s name, and she’s in the long grass with her lover — this is their secret place to meet. They’re surrounded by flowers, and the goddess of flowers is Flora, too, and she’s the only one to know the secret of these flowers and these lovers. I thought, "Wow, what a wonderful theme."
No Rain, No Gain, BMG Music, 2000
enyabookofdays.com

Enya: This song tells two stories — one of lovers lying in the long grass on a peaceful, sunny day. The girl’s name is Flora. It also tells of "Flora" — the flowers they are surrounded by. The song was inspired by the various legends given to flowers. For example — the "one the moon loves" is Endymion. He was the beloved of Seline, the moon, who made Endymion sleep eternally so she could be with him each night. Endymion is the bluebell. And, of course, Flora is the goddess of flowers.
The enigmatic Enya, Barnes & Noble: 2000

Lyrics

Lovers in the long grass
look above them,
only they can see
where the clouds are going,
only to discover
dust and sunlight
ever make the sky so blue.

Afternoon is hazy,
river flowing,
all around the sounds
moving closer to them,
telling them the story
told by flora,
dreams they never knew.

Silver willows,
tears from Persia,
those who come
from a far-off island,
Winter chanterelle lies
under cover,
Glory-of-the-sun in blue.

Some they know as passion,
some as freedom,
some they know as love
and the way it leaves them,
Summer snowflake
for a season
when the sky above is blue,
when the sky above is blue.

Lying in the long grass
close beside her
giving her the name
of the one the moon loves,
this will be the day she
will remember
when she knew his heart was

loving in the long grass
close beside her
whispering of love
and the way it leaves them
lying in the long grass
in the sunlight,
they believe it’s true love,
and from all around them
flora’s secret
telling them of love
and the way it breathes and
looking up from eyes of amaranthine
they can see the sky is blue,
knowing that their love is true,
dreams they never knew,
and the sky above is blue.

lyrics by Roma Ryan
EMI Music Publishing Ltd, 2000