On My Way Home

Album version	5:08	English	1995
Remix	3:36	English	1996

Liner notes

The journey home. A clear, fresh evening, quiet, restful. Thoughts are comforting, memories are warm and sweet. The air is so still reflection comes easy. A gentle snow may cocoon us and can deaden the night sounds, The mind can dwell on the good things in life as, with each step, one joyful thought begets another. The journey home is filled with the anticipation and excitement of arrival – family, friends, those we love. The solitary path has more room for wishes, in that stillness, in that night, going home.

notes by Roma Ryan
The Memory of Trees promotional box, 1995

Quotes about the song

Enya: It was written as one piece, but the chorus did change from the arrangement. Sometimes if it’s too subtle a chorus, it’s not dramatic enough. ‘On My Way Home’ is about all those wonderful memories and fond moments that you have when you’re on your way home. I know it’s that way for me, and we’re trying to get across that very positive feeling in the chorus.
Enya & The Memory of Trees, Gavin, 1996
enyabookofdays.com

Trivia

The song incorporates "turn it up turn it up turn it up – bye, adieu" lyrics from ‘Orinoco Flow’.

Single

01 On My way Home [remix] +
02 Eclipse
03 I May Not Awaken *

+ new version
* previously unreleased tracks

Music Video

The video directed by Rob Dickins uses an edit of the song that was not released separately. The scene with the lanterns was inspired by John Singer Sargent’s painting ‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose’. Sargent described the painting in a letter: "I am trying to paint a charming thing I saw the other evening. Two little girls in a garden at twilight lighting paper lanterns among the flowers from rose-tree to rose-tree. I shall be a long time about it if I don’t give up in despair." Eight screencaps from the video are printed in the limited digipack version of the single.

Lyrics

lyrics by Roma Ryan
EMI Music Publishing Ltd, 1995