Often a word or phrase spins around in my head for a time, a word that shimmers. Then when I’m composing this word slips into the melody. This is in the eary stages. After that I come back to sift through the words to try to make the entire lyric coherent, to make the words point towards the same theme or idea.
Lyrics are the most important part of songwriting for me. Lots of songs can be ruined by poor lyrics. I’ve written poems and even a draft of a novel but it’s the interplay between lyrics and melody that has been a constant fascination in my life.
Lúcháir
(Translation Pearse McGloughlin & Páraic S. Mac Lochlainn)
Arbh ailleacht é mar ní fhaca mé siud
Ach durthas gurbh ea ‘s thosaios áshántú
Ag síneadh romham isteach i gcuas
Fuaireas solás i lá faoi ghruaim.
Go dtaga lúchair
Go mbeidh olc ar lár Go dtaga lúcháir
Tá gá́ agam le sacraimint, le hortha
Tá máistir ar a ríchathaoir orga
Tá searbhónta bainte dá stór
Tá ribín ann
Ag ceangailt a gcluas’
Rothlaionn in éineacht
I réimse neamhbhuan
Go dtaga lúchair
Go mbeidh olc ar lár Go dtaga lúchair
Tá gá agam le sacraimint, le hortha
D’ár gcrann seoil bán - cén sprioc? Cad le rá́ leis an díbeartach?
D’ár gcrann seoil bán- cén sprioc?
Go dtaga lúchair
Go mbeidh olc ar lár
Rapture
(McGloughlin)
Was it beauty ‘cause I just didn’t see it
But I was told it was so I began to need it
Reaching over into a hollow place
Finding solace in a darkened day
Let the rapture come
Till the harm’s undone
Let the rapture come
Cause I need a sacrament, a talisman
I need a sacrament, a talisman
There’s a master on a gold encrusted throne
There’s a servant told to leave his home
There’s a ribbon
That binds them at the ear
They spin together
In a precarious sphere
Let the rapture come
Till the harm’s undone
Let the rapture come
Cause I need a sacrament, a talisman
I need a sacrament, a talisman
Where do we point the white mast
What do we tell the outcast?
Where do we point the white mast?
Let the rapture come
Till the harm’s undone
Let the rapture come
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