December 25, 2009

Oldfield's Native-themed songs

Correspondent DMarks brings the work of Mike Oldfield (Tubular Bells) to our attention:Here's Cochise:There's no "official" video. The music makes me think of someone on horseback.

Here's Pacha Mama:

Huaca Pacha Mama
Huaca Pacha Mama
Huaca Saqsaywaman
Huaca Saqsaywaman
Huaca Yachaq Runa
Huaca Yachaq Runa
Huaca Munaq Runa
Huaca Munaq Runa

Pacha Mama
Pacha Mama

(Repeat First Verse)

Pacha Mama
Pacha Mama

(Repeat First Verse)

(Words in Quechua meaning "Temple of the Earth Mother /
Temple of the Speckled Hawk / Temple of the Wise One /
Temple of the Loving One")

Looks kind of New-Agey....

Here's Santa Maria. Inspired by the voyages of Columbus. One-sided, of course:

The Santa Maria
The Santa Maria

The Santa Maria
The Santa Maria

Far the horizon
Hove to the wind
We're sailing the sea
To the edge of the world

Bow to the waves
All to the earth's end
We're sailing the sea
To the edge of the world

The Santa, Santa Maria

Santa Maria, the Santa Maria
The Santa, the Santa Maria

Santa Maria, the Santa Maria
The Santa, the Santa Maria

Santa Maria, the Santa Maria
The Santa, the Santa Maria

I already covered Oldfield's Song of Hiawatha with you.
Comment:  As usual, thanks for the info, DMarks.

Hmm. I guess lyrics aren't Oldfield's strong suit. Either that or he's "honoring" his children by using the poems they wrote in grade school.

Yes, Cochise sounds like reworked music from an old Western. I wouldn't be surprised if that's what it was: an electronically transformed version of an existing movie theme. Good stuff.

While we're at it, why don't we include these Oldfield songs too?





For more on the subject, see Natives Sing It Their Way.

1 comment:

dmarks said...

"Hmm. I guess lyrics aren't Oldfield's strong suit. Either that or he's "honoring" his children by using the poems they wrote in grade school."

That's about it. His first run of four albums were considered "instrumental". The only lyrics in his most famous and successful album (his first, also) were caveman grunts. His second one had a choir singing here and there, in an entirely unknown language. "The Song of Hiawatha" was a long vocal section that was part of a much longer mostly instumental album ("Incantations"), and the lyrics on that one were written by well-regarded poets (Longfellow and Ben Jonson).

"Indian Lake" is a rarity I'd somehow overlooked. Thanks for finding it.