Ireland, prehistory
folk
celtic
sca
Story behind the song
Manannán mac Lir, son of the sea god, appears in many of the major stories of Irish legend, including those of the Tuatha Dé Danann and Cu Chulainn. According to Manx tradition, he was banished by Saint Patrick in the mid 5th century, emblematic of the reduced status of the old gods with the coming of Christianity.
Lyrics
I ride the waves on Ocean Sweeper
My ship that bears no scrap of sail
No oars, but will alone that leads her
Behind the sun, before the rising gale
To Lugh I gave my sword of glory
And armor weapons could not rend
All to defeat the bold Fomorii
And so the men of Erin call me friend
Chorus:
I'm the wind on the ocean, I'm one with the land
I'm the mist rolling over the lea
I have made human history and I am still here
I'm Mannanan, the Son of the Sea
My cloak protects the vales of Erin
And hides the Danaan in its folds
No foeman bold, no unbeliever
Can pierce the secrets that it holds
My cloak is blue as skies in Summer
And green as grass, and white as lime
But shaken once between two lovers
Will sunder them until the end of time CH
I soar the skies on heron's feathers
And stooping, dive to skim the sea below
In Summer sun or stormy weather
From Erin shore to Blessed Isle I go
The race of man I have befriended
To guard your future, shape your past
When on this earth your time is ended
'Tis I will lead you home at last CH
words by Ken and Lisa Theriot
music by Ken Theriot
© 1999, Raven Boy Music, ASCAP