Paint The Sky With Stars (1997)

Enya's captivating compilation album, Paint the Sky with Stars, takes listeners on a nostalgic journey through her illustrious career. Spanning from her self-titled debut album in 1987 to the enchanting melodies of The Memory of Trees in 1995, this carefully curated collection showcases Enya's most beloved and iconic works. Intertwined within this treasure trove of musical gems are two new tracks that grace the compilation: the titular "Paint the Sky with Stars" and the beautiful "Only If...".

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Released on November 3, 1997, under the esteemed label WEA, Paint the Sky with Stars emerged as a testament to Enya's artistic growth and unwavering commitment to her craft. Following her widely acclaimed promotional tour for The Memory of Trees, Enya seized the opportunity afforded by her recording contract with Reprise Records to assemble this remarkable compilation. Critics lauded Paint the Sky with Stars applauding its comprehensive selection of tracks, and the album swiftly ascended the charts, reaching an impressive number four position in the United Kingdom and securing the 30th spot on the esteemed Billboard 200 in the United States.

In the US, the album continued to sell over the next eight years, reaching four million copies shipped in 2005. In Japan, it became the first non-Japanese album under the Warner label to receive a Japan Gold Disc Award in the Grand Prix Album category for selling over one million copies. To promote the compilation album, Enya made several interviews and televised performances.

Jump to lyrics, videos list, linear notes and credits.

Lyrics list

Orinoco Flow
Caribbean Blue
Book Of Days (English lyrics)
Anywhere Is
Only If...
The Celts
China Roses
Shepherd Moons (Instrumental)
Ebudæ
Storms In Africa
Watermark (Instrumental)
Paint The Sky With Stars
Marble Halls
On My Way Home
The Memory Of Trees (Instrumental)
Boadicea (Instrumental)

Videos

Lyrics

Orinoco Flow lyrics

EnyaTube has a video of "Orinoco Flow".

Also known as "Sail Away".

Roma Ryan

Let 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...

Caribbean Blue lyrics

EnyaTube has a video of "Caribbean Blue".

Roma Ryan

... Eurus...
... Afer Ventus...

... so the world goes round and round
with all you ever knew
They say the sky high above
is Caribbean blue...

... if every man says all he can,
if every man is true,
do I believe the sky above
is Caribbean blue...

... Boreas...
... Zephryus...

... if all you told was turned to gold,
if all you dreamed was new,
imagine sky high above
in Caribbean blue...

... Eurus...
Afer Ventus...
... Boreas
Zephryus...
... Africus...

Book Of Days (English lyrics)

EnyaTube has a video of "Book Of Days".

Roma Ryan

One day, one night, one moment,
my dreams could be, tomorrow.
One step, one fall, one falter,
east or west, over earth or by ocean.
One way to be my journey,
this way could be my Book of Days.

Ó lá go lá, mo thuras,
an bealach fada romham.
Ó oíche go hoíche, mo thuras,
na scéalta nach mbeidh a choích.

No day, no night, no moment,
can hold me back from trying.
I'll flag, I'll fall, I'll falter,
I'll find my day may be, Far and Away.
Far and Away.

One day, one night, one moment,
with a dream to believe in.
One step, one fall, one falter,
and a new earth across a wide ocean.
This way became my journey,
this day ends together, Far and Away.

This day ends together, Far and Away.
Far and Away.

Anywhere Is lyrics

Roma Ryan

I walk the maze of moments
but everywhere I turn to
begins a new beginning
but never finds a finish
I walk to the horizon
and there I find another
it all seems so surprising
and then I find that I know

CHORUS:
You go there you're gone forever
I go there I'll lose my way
if we stay here we're not together
Anywhere is

The moon upon the ocean
is swept around in motion
but without ever knowing
the reason for its flowing
in motion on the ocean
the moon still keeps on moving
the waves still keep on waving
and I still keep on going

CHORUS

I wonder if the stars sign
the life that is to be mine
and would they let their light shine
enough for me to follow
I look up to the heavens
but night has clouded over
no spark of constellation
no Vela no Orion

The shells upon the warm sands
have taken from their own lands
the echo of their story
but all I hear are low sounds
as pillow words are weaving
and willow waves are leaving
but should I be believing
that I am only dreaming

CHORUS

To leave the thread of all time
and let it make a dark line
in hopes that I can still find
the way back to the moment
I took the turn and turned to
begin a new beginning
still looking for the answer
I cannot find the finish
It's either this or that way
it's one way or the other
it should be one direction
it could be on reflection
the turn I have just taken
the turn that I was making
I might be just beginning
I might be near the end.

Only If... lyrics

EnyaTube has a video of "Only If...".

Roma Ryan

When there's a shadow, you follow the sun.
When there is love, then you look for the one.
And for the promises, there is the sky.
And for the heavens are those who can fly.

CHORUS:
If you really want to, you can hear me say
Only if you want to will you find a way.
If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.

Da da da da, da da da da da.
da da da da, da da da da da,
da da da da.

When there's a journey, you follow a star.
When there's an ocean, you sail from afar.
And for the broken heart, there is the sky.
And for tomorrow are those who can fly.

CHORUS

Da da da da, da da da da da.
da da da da, da da da da da,
da da da da.

Ooh go doe bay mwa.
Ooh go doe bay mwa.

Chorus

Ah! Je voudrai voler comme un oiseau d'aile
Ah! Je voudrai voler comme un oiseau d'aile, d'aile...

Ooh go doe bay mwa.
Ooh go doe bay mwa.

Chorus

If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.

Notes
"Je voudrai voler comme un oiseau d'aile, d'aile..." in French means "I wish I could fly like a winged, winged bird..."
"Ooh go doe bay mwa" meaning: this huming is not from a known language, but it sounds a bit like "Abandonez moi", French for "Leave me".

The Celts lyrics

EnyaTube has a video of "The Celts".

From the BBC documentary The Celts.

Roma Ryan

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

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.

China Roses lyrics

Roma Ryan

Who can tell me if we have heaven,
who can say the way it should be;
Moonlight holly, the Sappho Comet,
Angel's tears below a tree.

You talk of the break of morning
as you view the new aurora,
Cloud in crimson, the key of heaven,
one love carved in acajou.

One told me of China Roses,
One a Thousand nights and one night,
Earth's last picture, the end of evening:
hue of indigo and blue.

A new moon leads me to
woods of dreams and I follow.
A new world waits for me;
my dream, my way.

I know that if I have heaven
there is nothing to desire.
Rain and river, a world of wonder
may be paradise to me.

I see the sun.
I see the stars.

Ebudæ lyrics

Roma Ryan

Amharc, mná ag obair lá 's mall san oích,
Ceolann siad ar laetha geal, a bhí,
Bealach fada anonn 's anall a chóich.

Translation

Look, women working by day and late at night,
They sing of bright days that were,
A long way back and forth forever.

Storms In Africa lyrics

EnyaTube has a video of "Storms In Africa" (English version).

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 long is it since
How long is it since
Walk through the storms
Go through the storms

How long is it since
The start of the storm
How long is it
From beginning to end

Lift your heart
Walk through the storms
Lift your heart!
Go through the storms

Great Journey
Heavy, through the storms

Long Journey
Look through the storms

Marble Halls lyrics

Alfred Bunn

I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls
with vassals and serfs at my side,
and of all who assembled within those walls
that I was the hope and the pride.
I had riches all too great to count
and a high ancestral name.

But I also dreamt which pleased me most
that you loved me still the same,
that you loved me
you loved me still the same,
that you loved me
you loved me still the same.

I dreamt that suitors sought my hand,
that knights upon bended knee
and with vows no maidens heart could withstand,
they pledged their faith to me.
And I dreamt that one of that noble host
came forth my hand to claim.

But I also dreamt which charmed me most
that you loved me still the same
that you loved me
you loved me still the same,
that you loved me
you loved me still the same.

On My Way Home lyrics

Roma Ryan

I have been given one moment from heaven
as I am walking surrounded by night,
Stars high above me
make a wish under moonlight.

On my way home
I remember only good days.
I'm on my way home
I can remember every new day.

I move in silence with each step taken,
snow falling round me like angels in flight,
Far in the distance
is my wish under moonlight.

On my way home
I remember only good days.
On my way home
I remember all the best days.
I'm on my way home
I can remember every new day.

Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up, up, up, adieu.
Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up, up, up, adieu.

On my way home
I remember only good days.
On my way home
I remember only good days.

Linear notes

Written by Enya's lyricist, Roma Ryan, in Only Time: The Colletion.

Watermark

Has the night taken from you
the one who loves you?
No. Love is forever.
In your eyes is the sadness of one
who remembers their loss.
Love will not leave you.

Love does not fall under a name or
the mark on a page.
Love is unencumbered,
it's free and it's pure and it's brave.
In your heart is the island
where memories wash on the shore.
Love is an ocean.
Has the night taken from you
the one who belongs to you?

No. Love is forever.

The title of the track from the album "Watermark" was inspired by a poem I had written at that time. It remained as a poem and was not adapted for lyric. This is the first time the poem has been in print. The track was later used for the tribute album for Princess Diana, the proceeds of which went to the memorial fund set up in her name.

Boadicea

Boadicea or Boudicca, meaning Victorious, was the Queen of the Inceni tribe of East Anglia. She led a rebellion in 60 A.D. against the Romans, destroying the cities of Colchester, St. Alban's and capturing London. She was eventually defeated by the Romans, and rather than be humiliated by them, she poisoned herself.

Storms in Africa

There are two versions of "Storms in Africa", one in Gaelic and one in English. The Gaelic version is our personal favourite, which we have included here. Both versions were released as a single in 1989.

The Celts

This was the main title theme for the series. There were six programmes in the series with 72 minutes of music recorded. The director had various pastiches in the programme and wanted music to compliment these. Thus the music ranges from a "Spaghetti Western" through to "The Third Man" and "The Haunted House" to the more familiar tracks embodied on the soundtrack album. What happened to the other tracks? I hear you say. We still have them!

Orinoco Flow

Although it was the last track written for the album "Watermark" it was the first track to be released, and with great success. There was a sense of discovery in the creating of this album, a sense of beginning, a sense of something new and exciting. "Orinoco Flow" reflects the feeling of that time for us - adventure!

Ebudae

Ebudae, latin for the Hebrides, is referred to in Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso" as the Dreadful Isle or the Isle of Tears. It is also home to the "waulking songs" the rhythm of which is the inspiration for this piece. "Waulking songs" come from the tradition of women weaving and chanting to the unrelenting rhythm of the looms.

Book of Days

"Book of Days" was adapted from its original instrumental form as it first appeared on the album "Shepherd Moons", for the Ron Howard film "Far and Away" which starred Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. The lyrics were written around the theme of the film.

Shepherd Moons

Two tiny new moons had been discovered. Shepherd moons orbiting the outer ring of Saturn. Numbered, not named. Working ceaselessly, it seemed, to keep the particles of the ring together, much as a shepherd would guide his flock. Protectors both, 1980S26 and 1980S27 - either side of the F ring. Voyager had performed like a dream and sent pictures to Earth. An unspoken glory to the rings of Saturn. The world had not known but all the time they were there, working tirelessly. Everyone had appreciated the spectacular beauty of Saturn, but where would the planet be without those precious, mis-shaped, miniature moons?

Caribbean Blue

Like "Afer Ventus", the wind from Africa or Eurus, the east wind or the gentle Zephyrus, the imagination is free and can choose to create its own journey. As with all dreams, we reach for the ideal and "Caribbean Blue" represents such a dream. The lyrics can be summed up in three words: Believe in yourself.

Marble Halls

An operatic piece originally scored by the Irish composer, Michael William Balfe (1808 - 1870) with lyrics by Alfred Bunn. "Marble Halls", or "The Dream" as it is also known, is from the 1843 opera "The Bohemian Girl", which enjoyed great success during Balfe's lifetime. Balfe was once complemented by Strauss as being the "Master of Melody". "The Bohemian Girl", and in particular this song, is a favourite of Enya.

The Memory of Trees

In ancient Celtic belief trees had spirits within them and were considered sacred. They were the keepers of memory and lore. The Druids, the men of knowledge, used to record their wisdoms by means of a secret alphabet called Ogham, which is also called the "Tree Alphabet". Ogham is named after the God Ogma, the God of poetry and eloquence. Thus the memory of trees looks into the past.

The future we look at may give us another interpretation of the title, with the destruction of the world's rainforests it may turn out to be that the memory of trees is nothing more than that for us - a memory.

Anywhere Is

Well, it is, isn't it?

China Roses

Everyone has their own idea of heaven. What creates the beauty of the world is the love we have for it, connected to memories, wishes, desires. For each of us it is a different treasure we embrace - a changing sky, the crimson flower of the keys of heaven, a love token, the endless delight of fairytales, the ever-shifting pictures of our world that we find in the word of poets. For each one of us, a different love becomes our own wood of dreams. Denique non omnes eadem mirantur amantque: All men, in short, do not admire and love the same things.

Credits

Music composed and performed by Enya

Produced by Nicky Ryan
Arranged by Enya and Nicky Ryan
Lyrics by Roma Ryan
Marble Halls (Traditional) arranged by Enya and Nicky Ryan
All tracks published by EMI Songs Ltd
Principal photography: David Schneinmann
Calligraphy and Design: Brody Neuenschwander
Mastered by Arun

To all who hold us in their hearts � thank you.
Mar as gn�th�bui�chas do Rob Dickins

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