☝️ Key Points
- The song is about longing for the past and a loved one.
- The main character is called by the waves of the sea, which want to bring them home to their beloved.
- There are memories of a past encounter that touch the main character and transport them to a different sense of time.
- The lyrics describe a shared experience at the sea, where the main character has a vision of freedom and infinity.
- The song's lyrics reflect feelings of longing, separation, and loss, but also the beauty of memories and the hope of returning to old times.
Interpretation
The song lyrics for "The Old Ways" are by
Loreena McKennitt and they are about longing for the past and a loved one. The protagonist of the song is called by the waves of the sea, which want to bring them back home to their beloved.
The lyrics begin with images of thundering waves calling the protagonist home. This symbolizes the longing and desire to return to a loved one or a previous place. The words "The thundering waves are calling me home" and "The pounding sea is calling me home" show the urgency and desire of the protagonist to return to their beloved.
The lyrics also contain a reminiscence of a past encounter. The protagonist remembers a dark New Year's night on the west coast of Claire, where they heard their beloved's voice singing and playing. This moment is described as a vision that touches the protagonist and transports them to a different sense of time. It becomes clear that the beloved lives in another world and that their paths must separate. The protagonist feels the pain of this separation and wonders why it must be so.
The lyrics also describe a shared experience by the sea, where the protagonist has a vision of horse hooves and wings beating in the clouds. This image symbolizes freedom and a sense of infinity. When the protagonist wants to make their way back home, they hear their name being called and feel like a bird in a cage spreading its wings to fly. The words "The old ways are lost" come from their beloved and express a melancholy and a sense of loss. The protagonist wonders once again why the old ways have been lost and why their paths have separated.
Overall, the song lyrics for "The Old Ways" are about longing for the past and a loved one. The lyrics reflect feelings of longing, separation, and loss, but also the beauty of memories and the hope for a return to old times.