Exile
Album version | 4:21 | English | 1988 |
Liner notes
The exile of lonely words…
the exile of heart and soul.
notes by Roma Ryan
A Box of Dreams, 1997
Exile, in this song, is the seperation from one whom you love and is more than merely a physical experience. Yet in the loneliness of this song there is hope and determination.
notes by Roma Ryan
Only Time: The Collection, 2002
Quotes about the song
In fact it was Rob Dickins who argued that the music that would become ‘Exile’ should have lyrics rather than the mouth music which Enya began with. “He said, ‘You know Wilfred Owens poetry, that would be very suitable for that piece of music’,” Roma explains, “The air is melancholy and it reminded me of an exile but I knew some of Wilfred Owens work, and I trued to write the piece in that kind of style. I think my approach to lyric writing is ‘poetic’ in its feel anyway.”
Going with the Flow, Hot Press, 1988
Nicky Ryan: “On ‘Exile’ we wanted to use shakuhachi (the Japanese flute) but we couldn’t find a good player, so we got a gypsy guy to play the flute.”
Watermark Recording Process, Sonics, 1989
enyabookofdays.com
Trivia
A vocalised version of the song was released as a b-side ‘As Baile’ in 1991.
‘Exile’ was the first lyric Roma wrote for the album.
Single
The single was released in 1991 to mark the use of the included tracks in the ‘Green Card’ and ‘L.A. Story’ movies.
01 Exile
02 On Your Shore
03 Watermark
04 River
Music Video
The music video, directed by Michael Geoghegan, features scenes from the film ‘L.A. Story’ that used the song.
Lyrics
Cold as the northern winds in December mornings,
Cold is the cry that rings from this far distant shore.
Winter has come to lay too close beside me.
How can I chase away all this fears deep inside?
I’ll wait the signs to come.
I’ll find a way.
I will wait the time to come.
I’ll find a way home.
My light shall be the moon
and my path – the ocean.
My guide the Morning Star
as I sail home to you.
I’ll wait the signs to come.
I’ll find a way.
I will wait the time to come.
I’ll find a way home.
Who then can warm my soul?
Who can quell my passion?
Out of these dreams abode
I will sail home to you.
lyrics by Roma Ryan
EMI Music Publishing Ltd, 1988
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