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Loreena McKennitt — The Mummers Dance
Album: the book of secrets
Avg rating:
7.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3958









Released: 1997
Length: 5:51
Plays (last 30 days): 0
When in the springtime of the year
When the trees are crowned with leaves
When the ash and oak, and the birch and yew
Are dressed in ribbons fair

When owls call the breathless moon
In the blue veil of the night
The shadows of the trees appear
Amidst the lantern light

We've been rambling all the night
And some time of this day
Now returning back again
We bring a garland gay

Who will go down to those shady groves
And summon the shadows there
And tie a ribbon on those sheltering arms
In the springtime of the year

The songs of birds seem to fill the wood
That when the fiddler plays
All their voices can be heard
Long past their woodland days

We've been rambling all the night
And some time of this day
Now returning back again
We bring a garland gay

And so they linked their hands and danced
Round in circles and in rows
And so the journey of the night descends
When all the shades are gone

"A garland gay we bring you here
And at your door we stand
It is a sprout well budded out
The work of Our Lord's hand"

We've been rambling all the night
And some time of this day
Now returning back again
We bring a garland gay
Comments (278)add comment
I'm from Philly where they have Mummers perform every New Year's day!
I might be a Loreena luddite, it seems,while wonderful, every song sounds the same
 joejennings wrote:
I was introduced to Loreena by RP. Now, I love a lot of her tunes!!  She has a lot of diversity in the genres of music that she plays. The is also a lot of diversity in the recording/ production style in her albums.  Thanx RP!   



PS: a lot of RP commenters  do not seem to notice her musical diversity & the recording/ production diversity. Some of her  tunes sound like you are sitting front row/ center, and others sound like you are listening from the rear of a cathedral.
 scrubbrush wrote:
All the Hobbits in my Shire love this song



Too funny!   
Quite skippable.
 Proclivities wrote:

Probably not if you have to pause to type about it.


Typed after finishing? 
I kind of wonder if Loreena McKennitt and Sarah McLachlan's success in the mid-1990s was the US radio industry noticing what Enya had achieved and trying to go for a more palatable pop music version of that.
I was introduced to Loreena by RP. Now, I love a lot of her tunes!!  She has a lot of diversity in the genres of music that she plays. The is also a lot of diversity in the recording/ production style in her albums.  Thanx RP!   
 LizK wrote:

I don't live in Philly, I live in the South, where we don't get the Mummers Parade. We did see them when I was a child in Jersey, and loved them.  Is there any difference from the Kreues in New Orleans Mardi Grad?  What a great wonderful creative country we live in!




I have only seen the Mummers Parade on TV.  GREAT show!
 IndyDoug wrote:

Blessed be to all witches. As above, so below. As within, so without.


I believe they prefer to be called, "Wiccans."
I don't live in Philly, I live in the South, where we don't get the Mummers Parade. We did see them when I was a child in Jersey, and loved them.  Is there any difference from the Kreues in New Orleans Mardi Grad?  What a great wonderful creative country we live in!
 binggeli wrote:

Holy Toledo!

There's a lot of Loreena McKennitt being played today. I think I have heard this song at least twice today already...among several others. There is such a thing as Overplay (that's why most people are sick & tired of Stairway To Heaven).



Huh? Maybe if you were tuned to the World/Eclectic mix -- and something was broken. But this song currently plays every 2 or 3 weeks on the Main Mix.
This song makes me feel like I’m dancing on a village green in Elizabethan England.
Blessed be to all witches. As above, so below. As within, so without.
 acolt wrote:

Maybe it's because Bill played this right after some Dan Hicks monstrosity, but this is hitting all the right spots right now.



The Dan Hicks thing was a bit dire wasn't it
Maybe it's because Bill played this right after some Dan Hicks monstrosity, but this is hitting all the right spots right now.
I'm disappointed the most excellent backing band doesn't get more credit...  Granted she writes and sings beautifully, but the band makes her music magical...
 maureennet wrote:
I've been sick of Stairway to Heaven since 1974
 
I’ve been sick of STH since November 8, 1971 (the day it was released)
 binggeli wrote:

Holy Toledo!

There's a lot of Loreena McKennitt being played today. I think I have heard this song at least twice today already...among several others. There is such a thing as Overplay (that's why most people are sick & tired of Stairway To Heaven).



I've been sick of Stairway to Heaven since 1974. 
 scrubbrush wrote:
All the Hobbits in my Shire love this song


We do too even after 25 years :-)
 zedwhytheexwarrior wrote:

Bring on the Night preceded it on this playlist.
 
Zed is right. Response was to song played prior on the playlist. And I understand Sting was probably tired and not enthusiastic about promoting his album by way local appearances outside performances. But man, I apparently still harbor a grudge against Sting for being human and not meeting my expectations.
The haunting quality of this song deserves at least an 8. May have to bump it to 9.
 rhlrstn wrote:
itsme_bygolly wrote:

I met Sting and the rest of the members of the Police as they were promoting their debut album at a Peaches record store (remember them?). One of the most unpleasant exchanges I have ever had was talking to Sting. I was a member of a popular local band and admired the Police's music but Sting is a dick.



What do these comments have to do with this LM track? 
 
Bring on the Night preceded it on this playlist.
Rushed to my local library to find every album available.  I could listen for hours to this  beautiful music
Holy Toledo!

There's a lot of Loreena McKennitt being played today. I think I have heard this song at least twice today already...among several others. There is such a thing as Overplay (that's why most people are sick & tired of Stairway To Heaven).
I grew up in Philly and was always confused by the Mummers.  I'd see them marching around in the freezing cold on New Years day on Channel 6 and think "what a bunch of bozos".  I put them in the same category as the bowling championships or the Gene London Show.  Just don't get it.

Though I am willing to recognize with a few decades of perspective that perhaps I was missing something.
itsme_bygolly wrote:

I met Sting and the rest of the members of the Police as they were promoting their debut album at a Peaches record store (remember them?). One of the most unpleasant exchanges I have ever had was talking to Sting. I was a member of a popular local band and admired the Police's music but Sting is a dick.

 kyliebeguilie wrote:

Interesting! My brother was in a warmup band for Sting and my brother said the very same thing!
 

What do these comments have to do with this LM track? 
 itsme_bygolly wrote:
I met Sting and the rest of the members of the Police as they were promoting their debut album at a Peaches record store (remember them?). One of the most unpleasant exchanges I have ever had was talking to Sting. I was a member of a popular local band and admired the Police's music but Sting is a dick.
 
Is this here because you meant to comment on Bring On The Night?
 Wardleader wrote:
Image result for mummers parade philadelphia 2017
 
New Years Day in Philly. 
 itsme_bygolly wrote:
I met Sting and the rest of the members of the Police as they were promoting their debut album at a Peaches record store (remember them?). One of the most unpleasant exchanges I have ever had was talking to Sting. I was a member of a popular local band and admired the Police's music but Sting is a dick.
 
Interesting! My brother was in a warmup band for Sting and my brother said the very same thing!
 easmann wrote:
Song's an 8 for me.
I hate mummers though. Still have nightmares of Boris Karloff.
Or was it Karla Bonoff?
No, no. Pretty sure it was Boris.
; P
 
Inspired me to look up mummers
I met Sting and the rest of the members of the Police as they were promoting their debut album at a Peaches record store (remember them?). One of the most unpleasant exchanges I have ever had was talking to Sting. I was a member of a popular local band and admired the Police's music but Sting is a dick.
 lindaurq wrote:
CS Lewis would have enjoyed this
 Interesting assertion, but on what is it based?

CS Lewis would have enjoyed this
Song's an 8 for me.
I hate mummers though. Still have nightmares of Boris Karloff.
Or was it Karla Bonoff?
No, no. Pretty sure it was Boris.
; P
 radioparadise9 wrote:

The concert video "Loreena McKennitt at the Alhambra" is excellent
 
It is excellent.
Definitely one of the worst songs played here... feels like there should be some court jester dancing to a lute 
 haljordan wrote:
There is a concert video of her on Netflix streaming available now.
 
The concert video "Loreena McKennitt at the Alhambra" is excellent
I remember the Mummers strutting in my early teens in 60s and was also embarrassed and mystified. LOL
 

 
{#Yes} exceptional artist  Quasicoonass wrote:
Enjoy all of her music.. this is no exception  {#Boohoo}

 
 Wardleader wrote:
Image result for mummers parade philadelphia 2017

 
Dear God help us! I'm a lifelong Philadelphia (suburbs) native and I can't stand the Mummers!!!
Image result for mummers parade philadelphia 2017
I remember when this came out.  It was so intriguing and mystical.  Still is, IMO.  Can't believe it's 20 years old though.
There is a concert video of her on Netflix streaming available now.
 scrubbrush wrote:
All the Hobbits in my Shire love this song

 
Ok, that made me laugh.
Oh wow!
All the Hobbits in my Shire love this song
Absolutely fantastic, ethereal.
 JoeHaarlemNL wrote:
 tfioreze wrote:
Making love with this song playing in the background is sublime :)

 
I am in The Netherlands too
 
That answers one question, I guess.
I have typed about it not long afterwards ;)
 
Proclivities wrote:

Probably not if you have to pause to type about it.

 


 tfioreze wrote:
Making love with this song playing in the background is sublime :)

 
Probably not if you have to pause to type about it.
 

hayduke2 wrote:
Mmmhhf mmffahmiffmmamamph mm mammanoph, manfff!  Monmanmmmoffamanph, mude


oldsaxon wrote:

You need a better sound system. Seriously.

 
Or a better keyboard

BTW going from an 8 to a 9  
Enjoy all of her music.. this is no exception  {#Boohoo}
 tfioreze wrote:
Making love with this song playing in the background is sublime :)

 
I am in The Netherlands too
Ah... Loreena... This brings back such bittersweet memories... of magick and love lost.
Yet, it is all still just as beautiful and magickal as ever.
Making love with this song playing in the background is sublime :)
Being at a church hall watching all the would-be hippies swirling and hearing a little girl ask if this tune was called the "Mummies Dance" quite ruined the ambiance for me.
Just did an hour of yoga to Loreena McKennitt.  Love her.  She puts me in a trance-like state.  Thanks for playing!
Just right for a crisp winter morning in UK.   Pretending to work....
I remember when this track started to hit BIG in the late '90s. It was so unique I had a bit of trouble chasing it down at first, but then it got picked up almost everywhere I listened. Fortunately neither this track nor Loreena's music has lost any of its lustre.
{#Sunny}Thak you..RP you keep me mellow
 Dagadog wrote:
This song is exactly why I listen to Radio Paradise.  You absolutely never know what you're going to get, and sometimes you get something that just makes you sit back, close your eyes and and listen.

What a voice! 

 
Scratch that!.... Reverse it

 
 hayduke2 wrote:
Mmmhhf mmffahmiffmmamamph mm mammanoph, manfff!  Monmanmmmoffamanph, mude

 
You need a better sound system. Seriously.
Lovely.
 Dagadog wrote:
This song is exactly why I listen to Radio Paradise.  You absolutely never know what you're going to get, and sometimes you get something that just makes you sit back, close your eyes and and listen.

What a voice! 

 

Amen to that - she sure has a beautiful voice
 Dagadog wrote:
This song is exactly why I listen to Radio Paradise.  You absolutely never know what you're going to get, and sometimes you get something that just makes you sit back, close your eyes and and listen.

What a voice! 

 
Yes! {#Daisy}
{#Cheers} .... very nice tune  - will be checking out the album
This song is exactly why I listen to Radio Paradise.  You absolutely never know what you're going to get, and sometimes you get something that just makes you sit back, close your eyes and and listen.

What a voice! 
{#Daisy} fine music
 hayduke2 wrote:
Mmmhhf mmffahmiffmmamamph mm mammanoph, manfff!  Monmanmmmoffamanph, mude

 
thanks for the lawl!
Mmmhhf mmffahmiffmmamamph mm mammanoph, manfff!  Monmanmmmoffamanph, mude
haven't heard this in a long time...thanks
This is pretty good, and haunting, but wow, the beginning sure makes me get set to find and play Thomas Dolby's I Love You Goodbye...
I remember mummers coming to our house when I was a kid.At Halloween they would drink until my parents could figure out who they were.   
Joni is a genius, a great songwriter and talent. But I connect to this track, and others like it, much more than most Joni. 
 AndyJ wrote:
Really enjoying the selections today.
Not what I would have chosen, but that's why I return again and again.
Thanks...

 
Amen, brother.
Really enjoying the selections today.
Not what I would have chosen, but that's why I return again and again.
Thanks...
like it
 karljonasson wrote:


Really… rated 1.2 points higher than the brilliant Joni Mitchell song from a few minutes ago… sometimes I dunno what people are hearing that I'm not.
 
Hard to believe as I find this song as equally annoying as any Joni Mitchell song. PSD.
I think this is quite pretty.
 mrgus wrote:
While I like the song, but Mummers? I grew up near Phila. PA. They have a Mummers Parade every New Year's Day and I cannot imagine any of the Mummers bands playing this song as they strut down Broad St.
 
Its like "Second Line" in New Orleans.  So many people just don't get it, but they all have fun.  So let'em.


I like this CD.  Dante's prayer is my fav
i loved it sounds to me like the band renasance (sp) im old cant spell but love good old rock and nice fem singers  very pretty
 gemtag wrote:

More like WAAAAAHHHH!!!!

Hey guys, this is not a rock 'n roll station. If you want high powered rock 24/7 go to K or W blah blah blah, all the hits all the time. 
 
So simply and clearly stated!!  Way to go gemtag
I'm thinking Loreena and Bjork ought to go dandelion picking together.  On Mars.
I can handle about :20 seconds of it, then...can't...fight...mouse....it's.....too.....powerful.......going....for........PSD....button....<>
 mrgus wrote:
While I like the song, but Mummers? I grew up near Phila. PA. They have a Mummers Parade every New Year's Day and I cannot imagine any of the Mummers bands playing this song as they strut down Broad St.
 
Mummer is an old word which Wiktionary defines as:

mummer
(plural mummers)
  1. A person who dons a disguising costume, as for a parade or a festival.
  2. An actor in a pantomime; one who communicates entirely through gesture and facial expression.
Which would fit in with your Mummers Parade, I'd guess. There's also an interesting Wikipedia entry.
 ckcotton wrote:
Everything by her that gets played here sound the same.... over and over....

Just don't need exposure to this anymore...
YAAAAWWWWWNNNNNNN 
 
More like WAAAAAHHHH!!!!

Hey guys, this is not a rock 'n roll station. If you want high powered rock 24/7 go to K or W blah blah blah, all the hits all the time. 
 karljonasson wrote:
Really… rated 1.2 points higher than the brilliant Joni Mitchell song from a few minutes ago… sometimes I dunno what people are hearing that I'm not.
 
Music.
Saw her Sunday night. Great show. Her voice was in fine form. Hugh Marsh on violin was spectacular. She is another Canadian national treasure. Catch her if comes into your neck of the woods.
Thank PARADISE! Ocean for me new artists! Hard to evaluate, all perfectly!
 michaelgmitchell wrote:
This is a nice revisit for me. Haven't heard it in a while. Wow, the mix is something. On my little speakers, the percussion sliding back and forth, the vocals, left to right, other instruments bursting through from either side. Rare that I get to crank things up in the office at home. This was a treat.
 
Roger that. I use a Tivoli Audio Model Two buried here in the cubicle farm. The stereo separation is lovely, and the tone is what you would expect from a Henry Kloss design. In the home office, I have Audio Engine A2 powered speakers—just the right size for an otherwise crowded work space with enough oomph that, when the occasion warrants (like this song), you can crank 'em up without worrying about distortion.


Really… rated 1.2 points higher than the brilliant Joni Mitchell song from a few minutes ago… sometimes I dunno what people are hearing that I'm not.
I have seen her perform live several times.  The last show I saw was in a church in Stratford, Ontario.  It was spellbinding.  The performance and music seem to transport the audience to another place in time.  Very serene and peaceful music.  I love it.
This is a nice revisit for me. Haven't heard it in a while. Wow, the mix is something. On my little speakers, the percussion sliding back and forth, the vocals, left to right, other instruments bursting through from either side. Rare that I get to crank things up in the office at home. This was a treat.
{#Rolleyes} PSD
Reminds be of Clannad. Which is no bad thing.
 jpdribbler wrote:
 jagdriver wrote:
This is still a great tune, and the production is a knockout!
 

Absolutely! IMHO (wouldn't call myself an audiophile) this works great as a reference tune for testing hi-fi equipment.


 



Agreed. And I would consider myself an audiophile. Sounds great on my modest 2 channel set-up. Wide sound stage, lots of detail and as you mentioned: fantastic production.
SNOoze.  Just boring, and I mean really boring.
This band was so good live that she always sounds great to me.
hey, it could be worse.   I'm not sure how...but...it could be....I'm almost positive
 namp wrote:
Can the playlist get worse than this?

First "Ludovico the terrible" and now "Loreena the unbearable":  

Loreena McKennitt - The Mummers Dance
Ludovico Einaudi - Divenire


 
Maybe some Wailin' Jenny? :)

edit: Nope, there is hope, people that are listening to this set again. There will Led Zeppelin after it.
The first time I heard something from McKennitt I rather liked it. Then, I realized that not only did the song last for an unnecessary 6 minutes or so, but also, all her other songs did, and sounded the same. Yawn, indeed. 
Please. stop.
 mrgus wrote:
While I like the song, but Mummers? I grew up near Phila. PA. They have a Mummers Parade every New Year's Day and I cannot imagine any of the Mummers bands playing this song as they strut down Broad St.
 
It's likely an historical reference. She crafts many of her songs from past legends and folklore.
Everything by her that gets played here sound the same.... over and over....

Just don't need exposure to this anymore...
YAAAAWWWWWNNNNNNN 
While I like the song, but Mummers? I grew up near Phila. PA. They have a Mummers Parade every New Year's Day and I cannot imagine any of the Mummers bands playing this song as they strut down Broad St.
Seriously folks, there are more female artists out there than Kate Bush... I hear her name thrown around whenever somebody wants to describe a slightly quirky female singer. C'mon, if Kate is your only touchstone for this kind of thing you need to listen to a lot more music.

I'm not a Loreena fan by the way (zzzzzzz), but I do love Kate. :) 


She's a redhead. She's a Canadian. She's NOT anything like Kate Bush (who I adore, btw) and my little tube amp is doing dreamy things to her vocals. What's not to like?
All moods have their music. Loreena fills one of those for me perfectly. I can enjoy her just about anytime though. The arrangements and her voice always make me feel better. I'm glad RP has the 'nerve' to play Loreena.  
This is superb, sad that people can't separate their instincts to compare her from Kate Bush. So different in so many ways.
Still their loss not mine. 9 

BTW I think Loreena was talking about 15th C onwards mummers not those overdressed versions.
Miss you, Heather. {#Meditate}
 isayhoomhom wrote:
Mummers Parade, Philadelphia
 
Yo Philly!
Love it - the reality of these Mummers and the wispy stuff on the Loreena song - which I liked well enough to grab for my mp3 collection - are so far apart it boggles the mind that they could have the same name. 

Nice song, great writing and great 'production values'.  :-)  
 whtahtefcuk wrote:
Best set ever to worst set ever.... KILLIN' ME... This sucks
 
Amen Brother. Gotta kill the soft crap.

 ziakut wrote:
Sounds like a more approachable Kate Bush.
C'mon -Kate's just a normal girl!

Sounds like a more approachable Kate Bush.
Best set ever to worst set ever.... KILLIN' ME... This sucks
 jagdriver wrote:
This is still a great tune, and the production is a knockout!
 

Absolutely! IMHO (wouldn't call myself an audiophile) this works great as a reference tune for testing hi-fi equipment.


Never been much of a Loreena fan. I want to like it, but her music falls short for me.