Watermark (1988)
Watermark, released in September 1988, features Enya's first major hit, Orinoco Flow (aka "Sail Away") and was Enya's breakthrough album release, being considered a seminal example of New Age music (although Enya herself does not consider her work to be of that genre).
Looking back on Watermark, the words are those of loss, of reflection, of exile — not necessarily from one's country, but from those whom the heart loves. It has in its theme searching, longing, of reaching out for an answer. The ocean is a central image. It is the symbolism of a great journey, which is the way I would describe this album.
Enya
The original release from WEA Records is eleven tracks long. The Reprise Records (U.S.) version is twelve tracks long with the extra track "Storms in Africa II". Some later reissues of Watermark once again omit this track.
The track "Storms in Africa II" is a faster tempo remix of "Storms in Africa" with an English lyrics replacing the original Irish ones.
The single "Exile" (1991) was included in the films Green Card and L.A. Story.
Singles: "Orinoco Flow" (1988), "Evening Falls..." (1988), "Storms In Africa" (1989), "Exile" (1991)
Jump to lyrics, videos list and credits.
Lyrics list
- Watermark (Instrumental)
- Cursum Perficio
- On Your Shore
- Storms In Africa
- Exile
- Miss Clare Remembers (Instrumental)
- Orinoco Flow
- Evening Falls...
- River (Instrumental)
- The Longships
- Na Laetha Geal M'Óige
Videos
Lyrics
Cursum Perficio lyrics
Roma RyanCursum perficio
Cursum perficio
Cursum perficio
Cursum perficio
Cursum perficio
dadadadadadadada...
Aaah...mmmmmm... aah
Aaah.. mmmmmm... aah...
Cursum perficio
Cursum perficio
Cursum perficio
Cursum perficio
aaah... aaaah... aaah
Cursum perficio
Aaah... aaah aaah
Verbum (sat) sapienti
eo plus cupiunt
Verbum (sat) sapienti
eo plus cupiunt
Quo plus habent, eo plus cupiunt
Verbum (sat) sapienti
Quo plus habent, eo plus cupiunt
Post nubila, Phoebus
Post nubila, Phoebus
Post nubila, Phoebus
Quo plus habent, eo plus cupiunt
Verbum (sat) sapienti
Quo plus habent, eo plus cupiunt
Verbum (sat) sapienti
Quo plus habent, eo plus cupiunt
Verbum (sat) sapienti
Post nubila, Phoebus
Post nubila, Phoebus
Post nubila, Phoebus
Post nubila, Phoebus
Post nubila, Phoebus
Post nubila, Phoebus
(in) aeternum
(in) aeternum
(in) aeternum
Translation
My journey ends here
My journey ends here...
A word is enough for the wise;
The more one has, the more he desires...
After the clouds, the light...
Forever...
On Your Shore lyrics
Roma RyanStrange how my heart beats
To find myself upon your shore.
Strange how I still feel
My loss of comfort gone before.
Cool waves wash over
and drift away with dreams of youth
so time is stolen
I cannot hold you long enough.
And so this is where I should be now
Days and nights falling by
Days and nights falling by me.
I know of a dream I should be holding
days and nights falling by
Days and nights falling by me.
Soft blue horizons
reach far into my childhood days
as you are rising
to bring me my forgotten ways
Strange how I falter
to find I'm standing in deep water
Strange how my heart beats
to find I'm standing on your shore
Storms In Africa lyrics
There's a second version of that song, with English lyrics.
Roma Ryan (Irish adaptation by Enya)Cá fhad é ó
Cá fhad é ó
Siúl tríd na stoirmeacha.
Dul tríd na stoirmeacha.
Cá fhad é ó
an tús don stoirm.
Cá fhad é ó
an tús go deireadh.
Tóg do Chroí.
Siúl tríd na stoirmeacha.
Tóg do chroísa.
Dul tríd na stoirmeacha.
Turas mór.
Tor tríd na Stoirmeacha.
Turas fada.
Amharc tríd na Stoirmeacha.
Translation
How far is it from...
How far is it from...
Walk through the storms.
Go through the storms.
How far is it from
the start of the storm?
How far is it from
the beginning to the end?
Take heart!
Walk through the storms.
Take heart
going through the storms!
A great journey.
Come through the storms.
A long Journey.
Look through the storms.
Exile lyrics
Cold as the northern winds
in December mornings,
Cold is the cry that rings
from this far distant shore.
Winter has come too late
too close beside me.
How can I chase away
all these fears deep inside?
CHORUS:
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.
CHORUS
Who then can warm my soul?
Who can quell my passion?
Out of these dreams - a boat
I will sail home to you.
Orinoco Flow lyrics
Also known as "Sail Away".
Roma RyanLet me sail, let me sail, let the orinoco flow,
Let me reach, let me beach on the shores of Tripoli.
Let me sail, let me sail, let me crash upon your shore,
Let me reach, let me beach far beyond the Yellow Sea.
CHORUS:
Sail away, sail away, sail away...
Sail away, sail away, sail away...
Sail away, sail away, sail away...
Sail away, sail away, sail away...
From Bissau to Palau - in the shade of Avalon,
From Fiji to Tiree and the Isles of Ebony,
From Peru to Cebu hear the power of Babylon,
From Bali to Cali - far beneath the Coral Sea.
Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up, up, up, adieu...
Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up, up, up, adieu...
Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up, up, up, adieu...
CHORUS
From the North to the South, Ebudæ into Khartoum,
From the deep sea of Clouds to the island of the moon,
Carry me on the waves to the lands I've never been,
Carry me on the waves to the lands I've never seen.
We can sail, we can sail, with the Orinoco flow
We can sail, we can sail...
Sail away, sail away, sail away...
We can steer, we can near with Rob Dickins at the wheel,
We can sigh, say goodbye Ross and his dependencies
We can sail, we can sail...
Sail away, sail away, sail away...
We can reach, we can beach on the shores of Tripoli,
We can sail, we can sail...
Sail away, sail away, sail away...
from Bali to Cali - far beneath the Coral Sea,
we can sail, we can sail...
sail away, sail away, sail away...
from Bissau to Palau - in the shade of Avalon,
we can sail, we can sail...
sail away, sail away, sail away...
we can reach, we can beach far beyond the Yellow Sea,
we can sail, we can sail...
sail away, sail away, sail away...
from Peru to Cebu hear the power of Babylon,
we can sail, we can sail...
sail away, sail away, sail away...
Evening Falls... lyrics
Roma RyanWhen the evening falls and the daylight is fading,
from within me calls - could it be I am sleeping?
For a moment I stray, then it holds me completely.
close to home - I cannot say.
close to home feeling so far away.
As I walk there before me a shadow
from another world, where no other can follow.
carry me to my own, to where I can cross over...
close to home - I cannot say.
close to home feeling so far away.
Forever searching; never right,
I am lost in oceans of night.
Forever hoping I can find memories.
those memories I left behind.
Even though I leave will I go on believing
that this time is real - am I lost in this feeling?
like a child passing through,
never knowing the reason.
I am home - I know the way.
I am home - feeling oh, so far away.
The Longships lyrics
Roma RyanHi-ri-u
Ho-ro-ho
Ho-ri-u
Him-o-ro-ho
Hoireann is oro
Tá muid beo
Him oro ho
Go Deo na ndeor
Translation
We live,
forever and ever.
Na Laetha Geal M'Óige lyrics
Roma Ryan (Irish adaptation by Enya)Ag amharc tré m'óige,
Is mé bhí sámh,
Gan eolas marbh
Bhí mé óg san am.
Anois, táim buartha,
's fad ar shiúil an lá.
Ochón 's ochón ó.
Na laetha geal m'óige
Bhí siad lán de dhóchas
An bealach mór a bhí romham anonn
Bhí sé i ndán domh go mbeinn,
slán, slán.
Anois, táim buartha,
's fad ar shiúil an lá.
Ochón 's ochón ó.
Na laetha geal m'óige
Bhí siad lán de dhóchas
An bealach mór a bhí romham anonn
Bhí sé i ndán domh go mbeinn,
slán, slán.
Anois, táim buartha,
's fad ar shiúil an lá.
Ochón 's ochón ó.
Translation
The brighter days of my youth
Looking back at my youth I was happy;
I was not aware of death then.
I was as a child.
Now, I am sorrowful,
Long gone the day.
The brighter days of my youth held promise,
The way before me held sure destiny.
Now, I am sorrowful,
Long gone the day.
The brighter days of my youth held promise,
The way before me held sure destiny.
Now, I am sorrowful,
Long gone the day.
Credits
Guest musicians:- On Your Shore: clarinet by Neil Buckley
- Exile: low whistle by Davy Spillane
- River: percussion by Chris Hughes
- Storms In Africa: percussion and drums by Chris Hughes
- Na Laetha Geal M'�ige: uillean pipes by Davy Spillane
Produced by Nicky Ryan
Co-produced by Enya and Ross Cullum
Executive producer Rob Dickins
Engineered and mixed by Ross Cullum, except "Orinoco Flow", mixed by Jimbo Barton, and "Storms in Africa II", mixed by Pete Schweir
Cover photography: David Hiscook
Additional photography: Russel Yamy
Design: Lawrence Dunmore
Recorded at Orinoco Studios
Mixed at Wessex Studios
All vocals and instrumentation by Enya
All music composed by Enya and
published by Aigle Music
Arranged by Enya and Nicky Ryan
Lyrics: Roma Ryan
Irish adaptation by Enya
Thanks to: Max Hole, Moira Bellas and all those at WEA who have worked so hard on our behalf Peter Price Bridget Ryan Frank Bryne Terry Cromer N�ra N� Mhaonagail Dr Stanley Buchalter John Masterson Tom Astor Gail Gerard Alex and Erin and especially Ross Cullum and Chris Hughes
Management: Aigle Music
T� muid f�orbhu�och do Rob Dickins ar son an chuidi� agus an mhisneach a thug s� du�nn. (We are truly grateful to Rob Dickins for the help and courage he gave us.)