Shepherd Moons (1991)
Album Overview and Commercial Success
Enya's third studio album, Shepherd Moons, was officially released on 4 November 1991 in Europe by WEA and on 19 November 1991 in the United States by Reprise Records.
Serving as the direct follow-up to her 1988 breakthrough release Watermark, the album secured the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 1993.
The project achieved massive global popularity, selling over 13 million copies worldwide and topping the UK Albums Chart at Number 1 while reaching Number 17 on the US Billboard 200.
Pressings and Track Variations
The album exists in multiple distinct master pressings across different regions.
The initial 1991 pressings featured a 2:34 Gaelic language-only version of "Book of Days".
In 1992, Enya recorded a 2:55 bilingual English and Gaelic adaptation of the track for Ron Howard's motion picture Far And Away.
This dual-language recording permanently replaced the original Gaelic version on all pressings of Shepherd Moons manufactured from mid-1992 onward.
Film Soundtracks and Key Singles
Several compositions from Shepherd Moons were featured in major Hollywood motion pictures.
A remix of "Ebudæ" appeared in the comedy film Toys, while "Marble Halls" was included in Martin Scorsese's 1993 drama The Age of Innocence.
Official Album Singles:
- "Caribbean Blue" (Released October 1991)
- "How Can I Keep from Singing?" (Released November 1991)
- "Book of Days" (Released July 1992)
- "Marble Halls" (Released 1994)
Jump to lyrics, videos list, liner notes, awards, charts and credits.
Lyrics list
- Shepherd Moons (Instrumental)
- Caribbean Blue
- How Can I Keep From Singing?
- Ebudæ
- Angeles
- No Holly For Miss Quinn (Instrumental)
- Book Of Days
- Evacuee
- Lothlórien (Instrumental)
- Marble Halls
- Afer Ventus
- Smaointe...
Videos
Lyrics
Caribbean Blue lyrics
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...
How Can I Keep From Singing? lyrics
TraditionalMy life goes on in endless song
above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear its music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness 'round me close,
songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
while to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
how can I keep from singing?
When tyrants tremble in their fear
and hear their death knell ringing,
when friends rejoice both far and near
how can I keep from singing?
In prison cell and dungeon vile
our thoughts to them are winging,
when friends by shame are undefiled
how can I keep from singing?
Ebudæ lyrics
Used in Toys film soundtrackRoma 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.
Angeles lyrics
Roma RyanAngels, answer me,
are you near if rain should fall?
Am I to believe
you will rise to calm the storm?
For so great a treasure words will never do.
Surely, if this is,
promises are mine to give you.
mine to give...
Here, all too soon the day!
Wish the moon to fall and alter tomorrow.
I should know
heaven has her way
- each one given memories to own.
Angeles, all could be
should you move both earth and sea
Angeles, I could feel
all those dark clouds disappearing...
Even, as I breathe
comes an angel to their keep.
Surely, if this is
promises are mine to give you.
mine to give...
Book Of Days lyrics
Ó lá go lá, mo thuras,
An bealach fada romham.
Ó oíche go hoíche, mo thuras,
na scéalta nach mbeidh a choích.
Translation
From day to day, my journey.
The long road before me.
From night to night, my journey.
The stories that will be lost forever.
Evacuee lyrics
Roma RyanEach time on my leaving home
I run back to my mother's arms,
one last hold and then it's over.
Watching me, you know I cry,
you wave a kiss to say goodbye,
Feel the sky fall down upon me!
All I am, a child with promises
All I have, are miles full of promises of home.
If only I could stay with you,
my train moves on, you're gone from view,
Now I must wait until it's over.
Days will pass, your words to me,
it seems so long; eternity,
but I must wait until it's over.
Marble Halls lyrics
Alfred BunnI 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.
Afer Ventus lyrics
Roma RyanMare Nubium. Umbriel.
Mare Imbrium. Ariel.
Et itur ad astra.
Et itur ad astra.
Mare Undarum. Io. Vela.
Mirabile dictu. Mirabilia.
Mirabile visu. Mirabilia.
Et itur ad astra.
Et itur ad astra.
Sempervirent. Rosetum.
Afer Ventus. Zephyrus.
Volturnus. Africus.
Et itur ad astra.
Et itur ad astra.
Etesiarum. Eurus.
Running verse:
Suus cuique mos. Suum cuique.
Meus mihi, suus cuique carus.
Mememto, terrigena.
Mememto, vita brevis.
Meus mihi, suus cuique carus.
Translation
(The Moon and the stars)
Mare Nubium. Umbriel.
Mare Imbrium. Ariel.
And so, one goes to the stars.
And so, one goes to the stars.
Mare Undarum. Io. Vela.
(The Earth)
Wonderful to speak of. Wonderful things.
Wonderful to see. Wonderful things.
And so, one goes to the stars.
And so, one goes to the stars.
Evergreens. A garden of roses.
(The winds)
Afer Ventus.. Zephyrus.
Volturnus. Africus.
And so, one goes to the stars.
And so, one goes to the stars.
Etesiarum. Eurus.
(The earthborn)
Each man to his own. Let this be so.
That which is mine I treasure,
and everyone treasures their own.
Remember, earthborn,
remember, life is short.
And that which is mine is treasured by me,
as everyone treasures their own.
Smaointe... lyrics
Roma RyanÉist le mo chroí,
Go brónach a choích
Tá mé caillte gan tú
's do bhean chéile.
An grá mór i do shaoil
Threoraí sí mé.
Bígí liomsa i gcónái
Lá 's oích.
Ag caoineadh ar an uaigneas mór
Na deora, go brónach
Na gcodladh ins an uaigh ghlas chiúin
Faoi shuaimhneas, go domhain
Aoibhneas a bhí
Ach d'imigh sin
Sé lean tú
Do fhear chéile.
An grá mór i do shaoil
Threoraí sé mé.
Bígí liomsa i gcónái
Lá 's oích.
Ag caoineadh ar an uaigneas mór
Na deora, go brónach
'Na gcodladh ins an uaigh ghlas chiúin
Faoi shuaimhneas, go domhain
Smaointe, ar an lá
Raibh sibh ar mo thaobh
Ag inse scéil
Ar an dóigh a bhí
Is cuimhin liom an lá
Gan gha 's gan ghruaim
Bígí liomsa i gcónaí
Lá 's oích'.
Translation
A Thought…
Listen to my heart.
so sad forever;
I am lost without you
and your wife,
the great love in your life.
She guided me.
Both of you, be with me always,
day and night.
I cry at the great loneliness
tears, so sad,
and you sleeping in the quiet, green grave
in deep peace.
There was happiness,
but it went away.
You followed your husband,
the great love in your life.
He guided me.
Both of you, be with me always,
day and night.
I cry at the great loneliness
tears, so sad,
and you sleeping in the quiet, green grave
in deep peace.
I think of the day
that you were at my side
telling stories
of the days that were.
I remember the day,
without want and without gloom.
Both of you, be with me always,
day and night.
Liner notes
Shepherd Moons
Two tiny new moons had been discovered orbiting an outer ring of Saturn.
Numbered 1980S26 and 1980S27 (later named Prometheus and Pandora), they worked ceaselessly on either side of the F ring to keep particles together like a shepherd guiding a flock.
The space probe Voyager sent their images to Earth, revealing a poignant and beautiful mystery operating silently in space.
Everyone had appreciated the spectacular beauty of Saturn, but where would the planet be without those precious, mis-shapen, miniature moons?
Caribbean Blue
It is much easier to imagine a beautiful place on a rainy day than to imagine a dreary one.
People may create something good merely by thinking it so, making a daydream as rich a gift as any.
Like Afer Ventus (the wind from Africa), Eurus (the East wind), Boreas (the North wind), or Zephyrus (the gentle West wind), the imagination is free to choose its own journey.
As with all dreams we reach for the ideal, and "Caribbean Blue" represents such a dream.
How Can I Keep from Singing?
This track is based on a 1868 Christian hymn composed by Robert Lowry and written by Pauline T, which Enya initially believed to be a traditional Shaker hymn.
The Shakers lived simple lives and wrote music with which they glorified their joy in living, reflecting beauty inherent in simplicity.
In 1846, the Shakers sent food to Ireland in an attempt to relieve suffering during the Great Famine, holding significance in the decision to arrange the piece.
The recording incorporates a third verse written by Doris Plenn and popularized by folk singer Pete Seeger during the 1950s.
Ebudae
Ebudæ is the ancient Latin name for the Hebrides islands in western Scotland, referenced in Ariosto's classic tale Orlando Furioso as the Dreadful Isle or Isle of Tears.
The song's rhythmic arrangement is inspired by traditional Scottish waulking songs sung by women as they fulled cloth to the rhythm of their work.
Two distinct vocal layers thread through the track: one telling the narrative story, and another mixing half-invented, half-remembered phonetic sounds from childhood.
Angeles
At times we ask for extraordinary things to happen in our lives, believing deep down that they will occur.
Belief in a Guardian Angel or spiritual minder provides comfort and an easy relationship with a world beyond our own.
It offers a gentle hand to guide you through, though not away from, life's harder times.
No Holly For Miss Quinn
A partner piece to "Miss Clare Remembers" from Watermark, this instrumental was prompted by a story from author Miss Read.
The idyllic descriptions of village life recapture the innocence of an age far removed from modern society.
It suggests that listeners need to dip into that tranquil world from time to time.
Book Of Days
Inspired by Enya's personal habit of keeping daily diaries, the track examines the possibilities held within each blank page.
It reflects both sadness and exuberance when contemplating personal histories laid out in a journal.
The original Gaelic lyrics capture the anticipation and excitement of starting a new day.
Evacuee
The song was written after watching a BBC documentary about a girl evacuated from London during World War II.
Her emotional pain and tears while recalling her separation were as immediate half a century later as they were during her childhood.
The composition portrays a child's separation at a train station and the hope of being reunited with parents.
Lothlórien
This instrumental is named after the enchanted Elvish realm in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
In Tolkien's legendarium, Lothlórien is a timeless land where golden autumn leaves of the Mallorn trees do not fall.
Historical translations of the name include "the vale of the land of singers", "the valley of the singing Gold", and "Dreamflower".
Marble Halls
Originally titled "I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls", this operatic aria was composed by Irish baritone Michael William Balfe for his 1843 opera The Bohemian Girl.
Balfe, praised by Johann Strauss as a master of melody, produced a piece that became a personal favorite of both Enya and her mother.
Producer Nicky Ryan used extensive acoustic reverb on the track so the listener feels as if they are standing inside a marble hall.
Afer Ventus
Translating from Latin as "African Wind", the song describes delicate moments when everything in life suddenly makes sense.
The sweeping melodic lines fit together to mirror James Joyce's literary concept of Epiphanies.
Although fleeting and brief, these moments remain crucial and revealing throughout a lifetime.
Smaointe... (D'Aodh Agus Do Mháire Uí Dhúgain)
The word smaointe translates from Irish literally as "thoughts".
The song reflects on a historical tsunami that destroyed a church and graveyard at Magheragallon Beach in Gweedore.
Enya's grandparents are buried in that graveyard, inspiring childhood memories and feelings of ancestral guidance.
Originally recorded in 1988 as a B-side to "Orinoco Flow", the track features Liam O'Flynn playing uilleann pipes.
Awards
Grammy Awards| Year | Winner | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Shepherd Moons | Best New Age Album |
Charts
Album| Country | Peak position | Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 8 | 3x Platinum | 210,000 |
| Austria | 31 | — | — |
| Brazil | — | Platinum | 250,000+ |
| Canada | 7 | 3x Platinum | 300,000+ |
| France | — | Gold | — |
| Germany | 21 | Gold | — |
| Netherlands | 7 | 2x Platinum | 160,000+ |
| New Zealand | 3 | — | — |
| Norway | 2 | — | — |
| Spain | 3 | 4x Platinum | — |
| Sweden | 5 | — | — |
| Switzerland | 13 | Gold | 25,000+ |
| United Kingdom | 1 | 4x Platinum | 1,200,000+ |
| United States | 17 | 5x Platinum | 5,600,000+ |
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "Caribbean Blue" | Modern Rock Tracks (US) | 3 |
| 1992 | "Caribbean Blue" | Adult Contemporary (US) | 29 |
| 1992 | "Caribbean Blue" | The Billboard Hot 100 (US) | 79 |
| 1991 | "Caribbean Blue" | Official Singles Chart (UK) | 13 |
| 1991 | "How Can I Keep From Singing?" | Official Singles Chart (UK) | 32 |
| 1992 | "Book Of Days" | Official Singles Chart (UK) | 10 |
Credits
Guest Personnel:- Angeles: clarinet by Roy Jewitt
- Book of Days: percussion by Andy Duncan
- Evacuee: cornet by Steve Sidwell
- Smaointe... : uilleann pipes by Liam O'Flynn
Produced by Nicky Ryan
Music composed and performed by Enya
Lyrics by Roma Ryan
Arranged by Enya & Nicky Ryan
Tracks 3 and 10
Arranged by Enya & Nicky Ryan
Executive producer: Rob Dickins
Recording engineer: Nicky Ryan
Mixing engineer: Greg Jackman
Recorded at Aigle Studios
Mixed at Sarm West
Tracks 3, 7 and 9
Recording engineer: Greg Jackman
Recorded and mixed at Sarm West
Assistant Engineer: Robin Barclay
Track 4
Recorded and mixed by Nicky Ryan
All instruments and voices by Enya
Published by EMI Songs Ltd
Photography by David Scheinmann
Wardrobe by The New Renaissance
"Our thanks to: Owen Drumm of Owen Drumm Designs, Ideal Systems, John Kennedy, Seán Cannon M-Ocean Pictures, Peter Reichardt & all at the Warner family.
Ár mbuíochas do Rob Dickins a d'fhan, 'ag an stiúir'. (Our thanks to Rob Dickins who stayed at the helm.)