The Celts (1992)

The Celts, reissued on 16 November 1992, is a remastered edition of Enya's 1987 self-titled debut studio album Enya.

It contains music written and recorded for the soundtrack of the 1986 BBC documentary television series The Celts.

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Commissioning and Recording History

In 1985, BBC producer Tony McAuley invited Enya to compose a single track for an upcoming documentary series about Celtic history.

Enya submitted "March of the Celts". Series director David Richardson loved the track so much that he commissioned her to score the entire six-part series.

Working at Aigle Studio in Dublin and BBC Studios in London, Enya recorded 72 minutes of music alongside producer Nicky Ryan and lyricist Roma Ryan.

1992 Reissue and Chart Success

In 1992, following Enya's massive global commercial success with Watermark (1988) and Shepherd Moons (1991), Warner Music acquired the rights to her debut.

The album was remastered by Arun Chakraverty and featured brand-new artwork designed by Sooky Choi with photography by David Scheinmann.

Reissued by WEA in Europe and Reprise Records in the United States, The Celts outperformed its original sales performance.

It reached a new peak of No. 10 on the UK Albums Chart, returning to the charts in 1993, 1996, and 1998.

In the United States, the album sold over 1,000,000 copies, achieving Platinum certification from the RIAA.

Tracklist Variations

The 1992 reissue replaced the original 1:23 instrumental "Portrait" with a longer version titled "Portrait: Out Of The Blue" (3:11).

Key variations across release formats include:

• 1987 Original (Enya): Features the short 1:23 version of "Portrait".
• 1992 Reissue (The Celts): Includes the extended 3:11 track "Portrait (Out of the Blue)", originally released as a B-side to "Orinoco Flow".
• 2009 Japanese SHM-CD: Features "Eclipse" (1:33) as an exclusive bonus track.

Sampling Legacy of "Boadicea"

The instrumental song "Boadicea" became one of the most heavily sampled melodies in hip-hop, R&B, and dance music history.

Major adaptations of the track include:

• The Fugees (1996): Sampled the song on "Ready or Not" for The Score. Enya prepared a copyright lawsuit, but settled out of court for credit and royalties after learning it was not gangsta rap.
• Mario Winans featuring Enya & P. Diddy (2004): Sampled the melody for "I Don't Wanna Know". Producer P. Diddy sought permission directly, granting Enya 60% royalties and co-artist credit.
• Pirates featuring Shola Ama (2004): Adapted the hook for the answer song "You Should Really Know".
• Salvatore Ganacci (2016): Sampled the track on the electronic dance single "Dive".
• Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage (2022): Featured the melody prominently on their hit single "Creepin'".

Jump to lyrics, videos list, liner notes, charts and credits.

Lyrics list

• The Celts
• Aldebaran
• I Want Tomorrow
• March Of The Celts
• Deireadh An Tuath
• The Sun In The Stream (Instrumental)
• To Go Beyond I (Instrumental)
• Fairy Tale (Instrumental)
• Epona (Instrumental)
• Triad (St. Patrick)
• Portrait (Out Of The Blue) (Instrumental)
• Boadicea (Instrumental)
• Bard Dance (Instrumental)
• Dan Y Dwr
• To Go Beyond II (Instrumental)

Videos

• "The Celts"
• "Aldebaran"
• "I Want Tomorrow"

More videos in EnyaTube »

Lyrics

The Celts lyrics

From the BBC documentary The Celts.

Saol na saol,
Tús go deireadh.
Tá muid beo
Go deo.

Saol na saol,
Tús go deireadh.
Tá muid beo
Go deo.

Hi-ri, Hi-ra, Hi-ri,
Hoireann is O, ho hi, ra ha, ra ha ra.

Repeat

Translation

Life of lives,
[From the] Beginning to the end.
We are alive
Forever.

Notes
"Hi-ri, Hi-ra, Hi-ri" and "Hoireann is O, ho hi, ra ha, ra ha ra" are Celtic spells, and don't have a translation.

Aldebaran lyrics

I Want Tomorrow lyrics

March Of The Celts lyrics

Deireadh An Tuath lyrics

Triad (St. Patrick) lyrics

Dan Y Dwr lyrics

Liner notes

The Celts

As this is primarily a soundtrack project, we felt it would be appropriate to include the stories, images and thoughts behind the various themes which embrace this album.

They represent histories, mythologies, impressions, hopes and our individual interpretations of them.

Aldebaran

The Red giant Star, Aldebaran, found in the constellation of Taurus, is the Eye of the bull.

From the Arabic Al Dabaran, it means 'the follower' as it "follows" the Pleiades star cluster.

This piece portrays future Celts passing Aldebaran on their journey to new territories, continuing their ancient migratory pattern.

I Want Tomorrow

...thoughts of the present...

Commissioned to portray the concept of being spellbound by Queen Boudica.

March of the Celts

...echoes from the past...

Recorded prior to the BBC series, this piece served as the demonstration track that won Enya the full scoring project.

Deireadh an Tuath

Translating from Irish as "End of the Tribe", this piece invokes incantations that the earth may once again be fertile.

Samhain, the greatest Celtic festival marking their New Year on 31st October, is now celebrated as Halloween.

The Sun in the Stream

Inspired by the legend of the Salmon of Knowledge.

In the Grove of the nine wise Hazel trees, the River Boyne flowed from the sacred pool.

The salmon feasted on crimson nuts fallen from hazel trees, gaining all the truth and wisdom in the world.

To Go Beyond

...reflection on the future...

Fairytale

Based on the Irish legend of Fairy King Midir and his love for the beautiful princess Étaín.

A tale of love, jealousy, and endurance, Étaín is banished and transformed into a butterfly, reborn as a mortal 1,012 years later.

Epona

Epona was revered as the Celtic Horse Goddess and is closely identified with Rhiannon.

Depicted with birds and a cornucopia, her magical birds were reputed to lull the living to sleep and awaken the dead.

Triad (Saint Patrick)

Captured by Celtic raiders as a boy, Saint Patrick spent six years in captivity before escaping and returning as a priest to convert Ireland.

The track adapts the ancient Latin and Irish hymn "Deus Meus Adiuva Me".

Cú Chulainn

Cú Chulainn means "hound of Culann". As a child, he was named Setanta ("the little one").

He was renamed after killing the watchdog of the smith Culann, offering to guard the smith's house in place of the dog.

His legendary exploits are recounted in the epic saga Táin Bó Cúailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley).

Oisin

Oisín ("little fawn") journeyed to Tír na nÓg (the Land of Youth) with Niamh Cinn Óir ("Niamh of the Head of Gold").

He stayed for 300 years without aging, but upon returning to Ireland and stepping on the earth, he aged instantly and died.

Portrait

Out of the Blue...

Boadicea

Boadicea (or Boudicca), meaning "Victorious", was Queen of the Iceni tribe of East Anglia.

She led a major rebellion in 60 A.D. against Roman forces, destroying Colchester and St. Albans and capturing London.

Defeated in battle, she poisoned herself to avoid humiliation by the Romans.

Bard Dance

In ancient Celtic times, the Bard held tremendous importance in praising the king through eulogy or satire.

Alongside the Druid, Warrior, and Silversmith, the Bard represents the quintessential image of ancient Celts.

Dan y Dŵr

Translating from Welsh as "Under the Water", this is a lament for the submerged village of Capel Celyn in Wales.

The village was flooded despite fierce protests to build the Llyn Celyn reservoir, burying its history beneath the water.

Charts

Credits

Guest Musicians

• I Want Tomorrow: electric guitar by Arty McGlynn
• The Sun In The Stream: uilleann pipes by Liam O'Flynn
• To Go Beyond II: violin by Patrick Halling

Production & Personnel

Music composed by Enya.

Produced by Nicky Ryan.

Arranged by Enya and Nicky Ryan.

Lyrics written by Roma Ryan.

Engineered by Nigel Reid (except tracks 2 and 4 by Nicky Ryan).

Published by EMI Songs Ltd.

Mastered and remastered by Arun Chakraverty.

Cover photography by David Scheinmann.

Sleeve design by Sooky Choi.