Exile
WATERMARK

Liner notes

The exile of lonely words...
the exile of heart and soul.

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.

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."

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."

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.

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