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Loreena McKennitt — The Mystic's Dream
Album: The Mask and Mirror
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2473









Released: 1994
Length: 7:29
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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A clouded dream on an earthly night
Hangs upon the crescent moon
A voiceless song in an ageless light
Sings at the coming dawn
Birds in flight are calling there
Where the heart moves the stones
It's there that my heart is longing for
All for the love of you

A painting hangs on an ivy wall
Nestled in the emerald moss
The eyes declare a truce of trust
And then it draws me far away
Deep in the desert twilight
Sand melts in pools of the sky
When darkness lays her crimson cloak
Your lamps will call, call me home

And so it's there my homage's due
Clutched by the still of the night
And now I feel you move
And every breath is full
So it's there my homage's due
Clutched by the still of the night
Even the distance feels so near
All for the love of you.
Comments (148)add comment
This tune is an homage to the diversity of the (her) recording production. Some of her tunes sound like you are sitting "front row center".  This tune sounds as if you are sitting or standing at the rear of a gothic cathedral!
Posted 10 months ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 jbuhl wrote:
I envision 15thcentury cistercian monks tolling away making beer.
 



Works for me!   SUPERB TUNE!!   Thanx RP!  
Posted 10 months ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:

This song always conjures up the rolling steppes of Patagonia when the wild Tatars appear on Icelandic ponies over the horizon as the Tuareg descend on the last Wimpy bar in Shoreditch, that kind of thing.


That's exactly what I was thinking too!
Posted 1 year ago by Droidac    [ Reply ]
I had no idea she is Canadian. 
Posted 1 year ago by Tippster    [ Reply ]
I first heard this album while getting a colonic. It was so totally mesmerizing that I later bought 4 of her CD's.
Her video is also very impressive. 
Posted 1 year ago by timbeautomtom    [ Reply ]
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:

This song always conjures up the rolling steppes of Patagonia when the wild Tatars appear on Icelandic ponies over the horizon as the Tuareg descend on the last Wimpy bar in Shoreditch, that kind of thing.



i dunno maybe!?
Posted 1 year ago by ChuckDaring    [ Reply ]
Posted 1 year ago by phlattop    [ Reply ]
 jbuhl wrote:
I envision 15thcentury cistercian monks tolling away making beer.
 
that's not where I went:
https://media.giphy.com/media/...

Posted 1 year ago by phlattop    [ Reply ]
 gitta.grimm wrote:

danke, dass ich bei euch Loreena MCKennitt mal wieder hören kann. Das weckt Erinnerungen an die Zeit, als unsere Mädels Klavierunterricht hatten. Dort haben wir zum erstenmal Loreena gehört und waren begeistert




Guten Morgen!   Wie Gehts?
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 xgipper wrote:

This track and others by her come round *so often*.




But NOT often enough. I think she is GREAT!   
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
This track and others by her come round *so often*.
Posted 2 years ago by xgipper    [ Reply ]
 Rockit9 wrote:

The triangle player is awesome.



more like a tiny pair of cymbals/karthals, I believe. Takes me to middle-earth... 9
Posted 2 years ago by debobasu    [ Reply ]
 Canadese wrote:

We really appreciate RP paying so much Canadian musical talent. I sometimes hear great musicians for the first time on RP that are from the city where I live, Toronto.



Same here, in Montréal... 
Posted 2 years ago by RazzCat    [ Reply ]
Soul soothing music. Misty mountains, deep forests, here I come.
Posted 2 years ago by maboleth    [ Reply ]
danke, dass ich bei euch Loreena MCKennitt mal wieder hören kann. Das weckt Erinnerungen an die Zeit, als unsere Mädels Klavierunterricht hatten. Dort haben wir zum erstenmal Loreena gehört und waren begeistert
Posted 2 years ago by gitta.grimm    [ Reply ]
We really appreciate RP paying so much Canadian musical talent. I sometimes hear great musicians for the first time on RP that are from the city where I live, Toronto.
Posted 2 years ago by Canadese    [ Reply ]
 VV wrote:

...aaah music to play Dungeons & Dragons by.



Nat 20 roll
Posted 2 years ago by healmclau    [ Reply ]
 rhlrstn wrote:

Nope, Canadian! Though we were settled by many Scottish & Irish immigrants, so she may have some lineage, I don't know. Much of her music is Celtic-inspired, certainly!

Irish Canadian.
Posted 2 years ago by kenmo    [ Reply ]
 jbuhl wrote:
I envision 15thcentury cistercian monks tolling away making beer.
 


Fantastic beer.  
Posted 3 years ago by brosen    [ Reply ]
 jbuhl wrote:
I envision 15thcentury cistercian monks tolling away making beer.
 



Toiling away while the bells are tolling!  :)
Posted 3 years ago by macadavy    [ Reply ]
 ejuttner wrote:

This song was my gateway drug to world music and related genres.  It was the late 90's and my local public radio station was playing in the background....but I wasn't paying attention.  Until this song came on.  For some reason I felt an immediate connection - the music, the vocals, the arrangement, the lyrics - all incredible.  I called the station to get the name of the song & artist and it led me down a path to discover more of Loreena's music and from there a world of amazing artists and songs I would have otherwise never experienced.  Thank you RP for triggering that old memory and continuing to feed our souls with wonderful artists and music.



I did the same exact thing around the same time but it was a public radio station on a road trip.  Love her!
Posted 3 years ago by jmjohall    [ Reply ]
 tfioreze wrote:
Making{#Kiss} with this song playing in the background is sublime to say the least…


Agreed.  Also, Peter Gabriel's "Last Temptation of Christ".  Not kidding.
Posted 3 years ago by wingo395    [ Reply ]
 jbuhl wrote:
I envision 15thcentury cistercian monks tolling away making beer.
 All of McKennit's CD's are hand-etched by Cisco monks...
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.


Posted 3 years ago by tonyinnj    [ Reply ]
This could be music similar to that played in the 11-12th century Norman-Sicilian court at Palermo.. with its glorious mix of European and Middle Eastern sounds - a bit like the amazing Arab Norman cathedral at Monreale. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Posted 3 years ago by woodchuk    [ Reply ]
She came through Eugene a couple years, special show indeed!
Posted 3 years ago by willmcnaught    [ Reply ]
Posted 3 years ago by uksminas    [ Reply ]
This song was my gateway drug to world music and related genres.  It was the late 90's and my local public radio station was playing in the background....but I wasn't paying attention.  Until this song came on.  For some reason I felt an immediate connection - the music, the vocals, the arrangement, the lyrics - all incredible.  I called the station to get the name of the song & artist and it led me down a path to discover more of Loreena's music and from there a world of amazing artists and songs I would have otherwise never experienced.  Thank you RP for triggering that old memory and continuing to feed our souls with wonderful artists and music.
Posted 3 years ago by ejuttner    [ Reply ]
Started out with a 9. Nah, that's a 10.
Posted 3 years ago by rockbot    [ Reply ]
 jbuhl wrote:
I loves this so I cranks along with Tull.  Kid screams “Dad this is not a renaissance festival!”
 
My son refers to 'nasal ethnic whining' when I put on my more folky music...
Posted 3 years ago by kbs    [ Reply ]
 tinypriest wrote:

New Age Music maybe; but World Music rarely overlaps with New Age. Singing about Celtic lore in the style of early Renaissance court music, and about a river flowing through South America, doesn't make it World Music, just as "Marrakesh Express" didn't make CSN a World Music group.
 
Please define your terms? Celtic is world if you are Ali Farka Toure!

Posted 4 years ago by Chongo1959    [ Reply ]
 jmkate wrote:
 LM knows how to make a compelling and melodic song. This has been played for many, many years now-she and, off the top of my head, Enya and DCD helped put New Age music and World Music on the cultural map, so I hope she has her feet comfortably up somewhere.
 
New Age Music maybe; but World Music rarely overlaps with New Age. Singing about Celtic lore in the style of early Renaissance court music, and about a river flowing through South America, doesn't make it World Music, just as "Marrakesh Express" didn't make CSN a World Music group.
Posted 4 years ago by tinypriest    [ Reply ]
I'm finally starting to appreciate this album again. I was the victim of overplaying by someone who could not get enough of it when it came out. Took about 20 years, but I'm not running to change it anymore lol!
Posted 4 years ago by Pumpkincat    [ Reply ]
 tfioreze wrote:
And here is a definition of 'ambidextrous' for the laymen: — "being able to use the right and left hands equally well". 



 
As the old saw(!) goes, I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!
Posted 4 years ago by kbs    [ Reply ]
Only one word comes to mind “Hobbits”!
Posted 4 years ago by VV    [ Reply ]
flawless segue from Ben Howard 
Posted 4 years ago by jkforde    [ Reply ]
SCA
Posted 4 years ago by tsundeen    [ Reply ]
 tfioreze wrote:
And here is a definition of 'ambidextrous' for the laymen: — "being able to use the right and left hands equally well". 



 
And there was me, thinking that it meant a morning bidet.
Posted 4 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
 Rockit9 wrote:
The triangle player is awesome.
 
Best comment ever.  Props.
Posted 4 years ago by secretsauce    [ Reply ]
 jbuhl wrote:
I loves this so I cranks along with Tull.  Kid screams “Dad this is not a renaissance festival!”
 
Many years ago, in a magic forest...Texas Ren Faire Used to work there... Tull was playing in Houston that Sat. night. A group of us had tickets and went in garb... Ian Anderson pointed us out in the crowd and made a comment. 
 Hoped like all get out to see him Sun. at the fair..but nah..he does know how to blend in though... 

Love Lorenna though
Posted 4 years ago by deadheadmark    [ Reply ]
 jmkate wrote:
 LM knows how to make a compelling and melodic song. This has been played for many, many years now-she and, off the top of my head, Enya and DCD helped put New Age music and World Music on the cultural map, so I hope she has her feet comfortably up somewhere.
 
Saint Loreena (and I'm an atheist) had a concert in Istanbul last year. I saw posters but the date was a couple of weeks after I left.
She's popular in Turkey and at our house

Posted 4 years ago by radioparadise9    [ Reply ]
 MrsTom wrote:
It has to be really hot to melt sand. Is it a mettyfer do you think?
 
My interpretation is that she is referring to a mirage cased by heat waves.
Posted 4 years ago by kazoo    [ Reply ]
I loves this so I cranks along with Tull.  Kid screams “Dad this is not a renaissance festival!”
Posted 4 years ago by jbuhl    [ Reply ]
This is weak compared to her earlier stuff.
Posted 4 years ago by ace-marc    [ Reply ]
And here is a definition of 'ambidextrous' for the laymen: — "being able to use the right and left hands equally well". 

 curtlichter wrote:

And ambidextrous!
 

Posted 4 years ago by tfioreze    [ Reply ]
 Rockit9 wrote:
The triangle player is awesome.
 
And ambidextrous!
Posted 4 years ago by curtlichter    [ Reply ]
 LM knows how to make a compelling and melodic song. This has been played for many, many years now-she and, off the top of my head, Enya and DCD helped put New Age music and World Music on the cultural map, so I hope she has her feet comfortably up somewhere.
Posted 4 years ago by jmkate    [ Reply ]
Dead Can Dance, you the real MVP.
Posted 4 years ago by Clockworkpersona    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of the original Halo soundtrack
Posted 4 years ago by oskarziaja    [ Reply ]
I shall journey onward, and in doing so, dutifully select the all-powerful Skip This Song button, thus relegating this overlengthy dirge into the eternal abyss.
Posted 4 years ago by Laptopdog    [ Reply ]
It has to be really hot to melt sand. Is it a mettyfer do you think?
Posted 5 years ago by MrsTom    [ Reply ]
This really needs more Lute and Tamborine....
Posted 5 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
Overplayed and a wee bit pretentious.
Posted 5 years ago by PeteCreech    [ Reply ]
Her music is lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed her show at the Barrymore here in Madison a while back. But right now the music is too soothing and I am in serious risk of face planting on my desk at work. Need to get more sleep..
Posted 5 years ago by forthbrdge    [ Reply ]
 Sasha2001 wrote:
Wait a minute! Loreena McKennitt is Scotch-Irish? How did I not know that? I feel like the clues were all around me.
 
Nope, Canadian! Though we were settled by many Scottish & Irish immigrants, so she may have some lineage, I don't know. Much of her music is Celtic-inspired, certainly!
Posted 5 years ago by rhlrstn    [ Reply ]
Look at me I have shrunk and am dancing around a toadstool with fairies! Wheeeeee!
Posted 5 years ago by gregmu8370    [ Reply ]
 VV wrote:
...aaah music to play Dungeons & Dragons by.
 
First of all, It's AD&D - get it right! D&D was for your little brother and his annoying friends.

Also, we always listened to AC/DC and Ozzie Osborne when we played. 
Posted 5 years ago by Sasha2001    [ Reply ]
Wait a minute! Loreena McKennitt is Scotch-Irish? How did I not know that? I feel like the clues were all around me.
Posted 5 years ago by Sasha2001    [ Reply ]
Hauntingly beautiful? 

This song is also on Nights from the Alhambra, which is one of the best concert DVDs out there. Absolutely amazing and wonderful!
Posted 5 years ago by Steve_Bumgardner    [ Reply ]
The triangle player is awesome.
Posted 6 years ago by Rockit9    [ Reply ]
 jbuhl wrote:
I envision 15thcentury cistercian monks tolling away making beer.
 

 
Mmmmmm...
Posted 6 years ago by mrtuba9    [ Reply ]
Making{#Kiss} with this song playing in the background is sublime to say the least…
Posted 6 years ago by tfioreze    [ Reply ]
Whenever I hear this I feel an instant urge to play heavy trash death metal. Which is funny because I'm certainly not a fan of HTDM.
Posted 6 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]

 

Love this song (and the album from whence it came).  I simply can't believe that it's been nearly a quarter century since it was released!  My favorite of hers will always be "To Drive the Cold Winter Away," however.


Posted 6 years ago by mardison    [ Reply ]
...aaah music to play Dungeons & Dragons by.
Posted 7 years ago by VV    [ Reply ]
 1wolfy wrote:
What I admire about Loreena is the way she sings so effortlessly.  It is as if she is speaking beauty into existence..A true natural.  What a gift to mankind !

 
And womenkind!
Posted 7 years ago by poetdancer    [ Reply ]
I can t believe this has played only once in last 30 days.... feels like its ALWAYS playing...... mercy, no more
Posted 7 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
Wow...freaking awesome!
Posted 7 years ago by dragon1952    [ Reply ]
I envision 15thcentury cistercian monks tolling away making beer.
 
Posted 7 years ago by jbuhl    [ Reply ]
messages
Posted 7 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 LizK wrote:
Everytime Loreena McKennitt comes on, my attention instantly swings to her voice.  Must be my Welsh ancestors calling.

  Or somebody you know in Morden, Manitoba.
Take the call anyway.


Posted 7 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Ennia, Clannad, Loreena McKennitt e.a.: nope!
Posted 8 years ago by Dinges,_the_Dude    [ Reply ]
Perfect 10. Angelic voice.
Posted 8 years ago by maboleth    [ Reply ]
This song always conjures up the rolling steppes of Patagonia when the wild Tatars appear on Icelandic ponies over the horizon as the Tuareg descend on the last Wimpy bar in Shoreditch, that kind of thing.
Posted 8 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
{#Hearteyes}


Posted 8 years ago by fitmartin    [ Reply ]
 leathepea wrote:
Not sure, but it makes me want to scream:

FRODO!!!!! 

 
Hehe, good one!

Good piece of music nonetheless.  
Posted 8 years ago by hopper99    [ Reply ]
 ckcotton wrote:
Was kind of cool the first 20 min
 

 
{#Roflol}
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
What I admire about Loreena is the way she sings so effortlessly.  It is as if she is speaking beauty into existence..A true natural.  What a gift to mankind !
Posted 8 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
make. it. stop.
Posted 8 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
She is coming to Eugene next month! sweet! {#Music}   oops update its April damn it! lol 
Posted 8 years ago by willmcnaught    [ Reply ]
Was kind of cool the first 20 min
 
Posted 8 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
here in AU I find myself drifting once again in San Fran.. I love this station..
Posted 8 years ago by ralphyboy    [ Reply ]
Bought the CD some time ago - through RP to get some money back to Bill and Rebecca - but never managed to listen to the whole thing at a glance. It just repeats itself on and on with very little variation and imagination. Don't drop it in your car stereo or you'll fall asleep after 20 minutes. 
Posted 9 years ago by Chumbawamba-1984    [ Reply ]
Every time I hear her music it takes me back to Santa Cruz, drawing models in an art gallery. Not a bad memory and the drawings are actually pretty good. I always thought the host was trying a little too hard with the music selections. I guess it worked though
Posted 9 years ago by Delawhere    [ Reply ]
Everytime Loreena McKennitt comes on, my attention instantly swings to her voice.  Must be my Welsh ancestors calling.
Posted 9 years ago by LizK    [ Reply ]
Put me out of my misery, Mystical Monks of the Cave Mens' Choir.
Posted 9 years ago by fiddlechick    [ Reply ]
Not sure, but it makes me want to scream:

FRODO!!!!! 
Posted 9 years ago by leathepea    [ Reply ]
 bluedot wrote:
It's pretty cool at first, but it goes on WAY too long!

 
Please, just the hit single.  — Joe Jackson
Posted 9 years ago by dwhayslett    [ Reply ]

Properly titled...


Posted 9 years ago by AndyJ    [ Reply ]
It's pretty cool at first, but it goes on WAY too long!
Posted 9 years ago by bluedot    [ Reply ]
First heard this album 20 or so years ago...taking an astronomy class, in the planetarium for the evening, we all turned off the lights and projected the stars overhead and turned up this song - what a memory. Magical.
Posted 9 years ago by amma123    [ Reply ]
Love this tune and its my favourite Loreena McKennitt album too.
Posted 10 years ago by Sloggydog    [ Reply ]
Overlong intro that might work better in the context of the album, but ends up being worth the wait.
Posted 10 years ago by Typesbad    [ Reply ]
She is very strange--half the time I expect her to turn into a dragon or a djinn--and mesmerizing.
Posted 10 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
This is great!  Ms. Mckennitt is channeling so many musical traditions in this piece, I don't know where to start.

Those naysayers would do well to check out the music of the medieval troubadours who developed music that was a magnificent fusion of eastern and western traditions.  The medieval Norman king, Roger I of Sicily and  Emperor Frederick II would probably have enjoyed similar such music in their splendid Moorish castles.
Posted 10 years ago by woodchuk    [ Reply ]
 JustJeff wrote:
I just love her music!

 
I agree...very haunting
Posted 10 years ago by Emwolb    [ Reply ]
Wow this is boring!
Posted 10 years ago by meauclaire    [ Reply ]
Probably best song in the known universe {#Hearteyes}
Posted 10 years ago by Beetlejuice    [ Reply ]
I dig it! Feel like doin a swirling dervish in my kilt (ooooh it's chilly!!)
Posted 10 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
My son just said "it sounds like background music from a video game."

Not sure that's a compliment.
Posted 10 years ago by helloitsme    [ Reply ]
It makes me think of an execution in the middle ages... Sorry but I can't listen to it, sounds too macabre.
Posted 10 years ago by a2sibiu    [ Reply ]
Meh
Posted 10 years ago by Hello_old_friend    [ Reply ]
{#Ass}
Posted 10 years ago by Hello_old_friend    [ Reply ]
bleh.
Posted 10 years ago by leafmold    [ Reply ]
I just love her music!
Posted 10 years ago by JustJeff    [ Reply ]
FANTASTIC
Posted 10 years ago by bosmat    [ Reply ]
wow...the comments for this song are so old. Just sayin'
Posted 11 years ago by esacconcia    [ Reply ]

This song is good for the ears...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
Wonderful tune for yoga practice....namaste...
Posted 18 years ago by Exit2Eden    [ Reply ]
This song is awesome ... I\'ve heard it somewhere before. Im going to buy this CD.
Posted 21 years ago by dagreengo    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of the Lisa Gerrard tracks on the Gladiator soundtrack, sort of. Very cool. This is exactly the sort of song that draws me to RP. Something I would never hear on the radio, and music I would likely not get exposed to otherwise, but will probably look for more of.
Posted 21 years ago by Zweiblumen    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by Leslie: Haunting vocals that seem to stir something in my soul and past lives. I love to play my mandolin along with this song, and in fact the entire album.
Bump for my new friend Snipe. :)
Posted 21 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
I really don't understand the Negative ratings this song has gotten!!! I could ask, "What's wrong with people today?" but that would be mere Hyperbole On this Planet!!!
Posted 21 years ago by SnipeHunter    [ Reply ]
Must fight sleep...must fight sleep...crawl to an exit...fresh air...must ge.........................................
Posted 21 years ago by tomnam    [ Reply ]
Please make it stop - I have RP on in the background and this song is just grating...
Posted 21 years ago by tomnam    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by Pirate40: Thought this was from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack at first.
Actually, this song was used in TNN's The Mist of Avalon.
Posted 21 years ago by MsfStl    [ Reply ]
I think this song is going to make me biased towards my vote on the next song. As a matter of fact I know what I am giving th enext song before i even hear it. It gets a 10 for the simple fact that it ended this one.
Posted 21 years ago by trancefussion    [ Reply ]
ick
Posted 21 years ago by deecee99    [ Reply ]
I like this!! Soothing and haunting at the same time. I just read phorp's comment after I typed my comment and all I can say is GMTA! :D
Posted 21 years ago by polecat    [ Reply ]
Ugh! Make it end! Going to take willpower to hold out to the next song...
Posted 21 years ago by GregX59    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by BDGlenn: Finally a song to put Carlos asleep, I'm gonna whack that little turd vermin.
Posted 22 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]