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Skellig Lyrics by Loreena McKennitt

The Book of Secrets

1997

O light the candle, John
The daylight has almost gone
The birds have sung their last
The bells call all to mass

Sit here by my side
For the night is very long
There's something I must tell
Before I pass along

I joined the brotherhood
My books were all to me
I scribed the words of God
And much of history

Many a year was I
Perched out upon the sea
The waves would wash my tears
The wind, my memory

I'd hear the ocean breathe
Exhale upon the shore
I knew the tempest's blood
Its wrath I would endure

And so the years went by
Within my rocky cell
With only a mouse or bird
My friend; I loved them well

And so it came to pass
I'd come here to Romani
And many a year it took
Till I arrived here with thee

On dusty roads I walked
And over mountains high
Through rivers running deep
Beneath the endless sky

Beneath these jasmine flowers
Amidst these cypress trees
I give you now my books
And all their mysteries

Now take the hourglass
And turn it on its head
For when the sands are still
'Tis then you'll find me dead

O light the candle, John
The daylight is almost gone
The birds have sung their last
The bells call all to mass

About “Skellig” by Loreena McKennitt

Read the complete lyrics to "Skellig" by Loreena McKennitt from the album "The Book of Secrets" in 1997. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Country, Celtic, Folk.

"Skellig" is performed by Loreena McKennitt. from the album "The Book of Secrets" in 1997 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Skellig", explore more songs by Loreena McKennitt using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Loreena McKennitt · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Skellig" is credited to Loreena McKennitt. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Skellig" appears on "The Book of Secrets" in 1997.

Visit the Loreena McKennitt artist page at /artist/loreena-mckennitt for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.


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