Clannad，这个词，单从词根上看就知道和家族有关，而这个以 Clannad 命名的四人（曾经是五人）乐队呢，实际上也是由血缘相近的两个家族（O Brennan 和 O Duggan）的成员所组成的。这个乐队发源自遥远的爱尔兰西北部偏远山区，一个居民不过6000人，名叫 Parish Gweedore 的海边小镇上。而这个小镇，至今还是沿用着古老的凯尔特语。

　　在大约40多年前，这个小镇上有那么一家以音乐为特色的小客栈，客栈的主人是 Leo O Brennan，他在自己的小店里设了一个精致的小舞台专门给自己家族里的小孩子们表演。而Leo他自己则出生在DONEGAL北部，他能弹奏萨斯风、竖笛和手风琴并且在Leo年轻的时候，他非常迷恋美国三四十年代的SWING（摇摆类）乐队。而当他在 Parish Gweedore 定居后，他的妻子是一名音乐教师而且也是组织了一个唱诗班，她能弹奏不同的风琴。而也就在这么浓厚的音乐氛围下，他们的孩子长大了。从小，他们就耳濡目染了凯特尔民间音乐、爵士乐和美国流行乐。而他们的外婆和外公呢，更是不断地告诉他们凯特尔的民间故事、神话和传说。

　　而当他们长大以后，Ciaran 擅长贝斯和吉他，而他同时也是乐队主要的作曲者；他的姐姐 Moya 则拥有一把天籁之声并且弹得一手好竖琴；而他们的兄弟 Pol（于1989年单飞）则精于爱尔兰传统的六孔小笛、吉他和长笛。而他们的双胞胎舅舅 Padraig 和 Neel 呢，两个都是吉他高手，而 Padraig 还能演奏曼陀铃和风琴。至此，Clannad 的基本成员介绍完毕，在他们的专辑里，他们基本上都是演奏他们的拿手乐器，Moya 领唱，而其他人共同负责和声。此外，值得一提的是，Moya 的妹妹 Enya，在80-82年短短的两年里，也曾是 Clannad 乐队的成员，负责的是键盘和一部分人声。

　　1970年，当他们还在学校读书的时候，Clannad 参加了全爱尔兰民间音乐节并一举夺魁，而由此，也就促成了他们73年的第一张专集的诞生。而在整个70年代，Clannad 乐队一共发行了6张专集。

　　而80年代，才真正是 Clannad 乐队步向辉煌的岁月。80年代的第一张专集《Magical Ring》的主要曲目《Theme from Harry’s Game》是为了一部北爱尔兰的电视剧所专门写的。而这曲子也是 Clannad 乐队经典中的经典。就是这曲子让 Clannad 赢得了国际上的关注，也是这曲子获得了83年IVOR NOVELLO的“年度最佳电视主题曲奖”。

　　而后，在英国学术电影和电视艺术节上，1985年专集《Legend 传说》的主要曲目《Robin of Sherwood》大放异彩。而后，在1989年，BBC要录制一个关于大西洋生态历史的记录片并邀请 Clannad 为其谱曲，由此，Clannad 的另一首经典《Atlantic Realm》就出现了。

　　在1984年为英国的电视节目《Robin Sherwood》进行音乐制作时，Clannad 才透过持续的广播，被介绍给美国的观众。1992年在美国发行了他们越过大西洋的首张专辑《Anam》之后，成为家喻户晓的团体，大放异彩，《Theme from Harry's Game》也引起无可抵挡的回响，而且还获得了Billboard音乐奖中的“年度世界音乐”（World Music Song Of The Year）。

　　1998年发行的《Landmarks 地标》专辑，一举拿下了第41届格莱美奖的“年度最佳新世纪唱片”。这张专辑是 Clannad 的第18张专辑，共收录10首歌曲，其中凯尔特语、英语各占一半。取名《Landmarks 地标》是因为专辑中有许多歌曲的写作灵感与主题都是和地区有关的。除了传统乐器，他们也使用合成乐音，营造出一种超凡深邃的美感。美国还有乐评家指出，电影《泰坦尼克号》的配乐灵感简直就是来自 Clannad，很有意思，可以将这二张作品比较看看。

　　总体而言，Clannad 的风格是在古老传统的凯特尔民间音乐基础上加入了爵士乐的慵懒，以及现代音乐的飘忽。他们的演唱奠基在扎实的现代和声学上，而且还陪衬着不同乐器、弦乐编排，有时甚至加入摇滚的某些节奏，这样混合出来的声音形成了一种与众不同的和谐，以及一个难以或忘的梦境。这——就是 Clannad，一个来自爱尔兰DONEGAL的神秘声音。

专辑歌词:

An Gleann

"An Gleann" meaning "The Glenn", was the opening track of Clannad's 1998 studio album Landmarks. The song, written by Ciarán Brennan, opens with sampled keyboards and drum programs, adding an ambient strain to Clannad's style, while Anto Drennan's electric slide guitar provides subtle rock-blues undercurrents. By this time, the Clannad sound had reached its full potential, and the resultant music skillfully blends contemporary rock, ambient, folk, and New Age sounds to the group's distinctive male-female vocal harmonies.

（盖尔语）
Dul síos an gleann tráthnóna aréir
D'imigh an scáth as tóin a 'tsléibh
An drúcht 'na luí ar bharr an fhéir
An saol uilig 'na gcodhladh
D'imigh an scáth as tóin a 'tsléibh
Gan baol ar bith go maidin

Dúrún an dúiche seo
Ó ghlúin go glúin
Lonad mar fhís sa cheo
Rún go ciúin

Sé cumhacht na gcrann fan áit
'Spreag na baird 'san fhilíocht
Na clocha 'tá coisbicthe fan árd

Thíos fá gleann dá locha
I dtobar i dúin
Gartan cholmcille
Sin go lá a'luain

Dul síos an gleann tráthnóna aréir
D'imigh an scáth as tóin a 'tsléibh
An drúcht 'na luí ar bharr an fhéir
An saol uilig 'na gcodhladh
D'imigh an scáth as tóin a 'tsléibh
An drúcht 'na luí ar bharr an fhéir
D'imigh an scáth as tóin a 'tsléibh
Gan baol ar bith go maidin

Dul síos an gleann tráthnóna aréir
D'imigh an scáth as tóin a 'tsléibh
An drúcht 'na luí ar bharr an fhéir
An saol uilig 'na gcodhladh
D'imigh an scáth as tóin a 'tsléibh
Gan baol ar bith go maidin

D'imigh an scáth as tóin a 'tsléibh
Gan baol ar bith go maidin...

（英语译文）
Going down the glen yesterday afternoon
The shadow cleared from the foot of the mountain
The dew lying on the top of the grass
All the world asleep
The shadow cleared from the foot of the mountain
No danger at all 'til morning

The mystery of this land
From generation to generation
A place like a dream vision in the fog
A quiet secret

The power of the trees there
Inspired the bards to their poetry
The stones that are blessed under the heavens

Down by Glendalough
In a well in a fort
The hospitality of Colmcille
Will be until Judgment Day

Going down the glen yesterday afternoon
The shadow cleared from the foot of the mountain
The dew lying on the top of the grass
All the world asleep
The shadow cleared from the foot of the mountain
The dew lying on the top of the grass
The shadow cleared from the foot of the mountain
No danger at all 'til morning

Going down the glen yesterday afternoon
The shadow cleared from the foot of the mountain
The dew lying on the top of the grass
All the world asleep
The shadow cleared from the foot of the mountain
No danger at all 'til morning

The shadow cleared from the foot of the mountain
No danger at all 'til morning...

Fadó

（盖尔语）
Anois i dtús an fhómhair
Is mé smaointiú siar
Ar an laethe aerach'i bhfad ó shoin
'S mé a' súgradh le mo mhian
Bhí áilneacht aoibhinn ar a h-aghaidh
Is sólás in a croí
Ba sin fadó a bhuachaill
Ba sin fadó, fadó

I ndúbhlaíocht an gheimhridh
A casadh orm í
Go h-éascaí stuama 's muid linn fhéin
Thug sí domhsa lámh
Ghoid mé póg on bhainbíon óg
'S thit mé léi i ngrá
Ba sin fadó a bhuachaill
Ba sin fadó, fadó

A bhuachaill óig
I bhfad sul a bhfaca tusa 'n lá
A bhuachaill óig
I bhfad sul a bhfaca tusa 'n lá

Nar dheas dá dtiochfadh an trá sin
Ar seal beag liom arís
Ó bhéarfainn dí gach uile ní
'S mo dhílseacht léi go bráth
Tá'n saol seo cruaidh, tá'n saol seo corr
Tig scamall ar an ghrian
Ba deas fadó a bhuachaill
Ba deas fadó, fadó

A bhuachaill óig
I bhfad sul a bhfaca tusa 'n lá...

（英语译文）
Now in the beginning of autumn
And here I am thinking back
To the merry days of long ago
When I frolicked with my love
Her face possessed blissful beauty
Her heart, joy and solace
That was long ago, my boy
That was long ago, long ago

In the depths of winter
Did I meet her
When we were alone, swiftly and poised
She offered me her hand
I stole a kiss from the young queen
And fell in love with her
That was long ago, my boy
That was long ago, long ago

My young boy
Long before you saw the light of day
My young boy
Long before you saw the light of day

Wouldn't it be splendid if I could get back
That time for a short while
Oh I would bring her anything
And she would have my eternal loyalty
This life is cruel, this life is strange
A cloud darkens the sun
It was nice long ago, my boy
It was nice long ago, long ago

My young boy
Long before you saw the light of day...

A Mhuirnín Ó

"A Mhuirnín Ó" (which translates to "O Sweetheart") was written by Ciarán and Máire Brennan in the traditional vein. The song's heroine sees a handsome stranger on market day. He plays music and eventually wins her heart. Better yet, he makes a chance purchase of a winning lottery ticket and subsequently increases his fortunes, thus making him far safer bet for marriage than before. This is a perfect example of Clannad's ability to provide a contemporary twist to narrative stories as found in traditional ballads. In 1998 Noel Duggan stated in Rock 'N' Reel magazine;"We class these songs as our landmarks - as songs that will be traditional in years to come."

（盖尔语）
Chorus (after each verse):

A mhuirnín ó an dtiocfaidh tú na bhaile
A mhuirnín ó an dtiocfaidh tú liom
A mhuirnín ó an dtiocfaidh tú na bhaile
A mhuirnín ó

(Repeat)

Bhí sé thíos i lár a' mhargaidh
Dól sé 's cheol sé ar rith an lae
Nuair a tháinig an oíche gan pingin ina bhríste
Is mairg nár ghlac mé comhairle na mná

Casadh orm é le heiri na gréine
An ógánach gleoite go folláin 's go beo
Nuair a thóg sé a hata agus labhair sé le gáire
Thit mé i ngra leis, chreid mé go deo

Bhí cnaipí airgid ar mo chóta
Is ribní síoda a bhfearr sa tír
Slabhraí óir is clocha luachmhar
Mheall mé le saibhreas é go fíor

Ní rabhas ag a nduine cé'n pháirt dén tír é
Labhair sé go uasal soinneanta só
Bhí 'n tiombá thart go raibh tiarna ina theaghlach Ní raibh sé i bhfad bhí mé geallta do

Tá'n ceangal fada 's deacar a scaoileadh
Bhfearr i bhfad a bheith cinnte do
Níor ghlac sé i bhfad gur bhris sé mo chroí sa
A leoga ní seo mo scéilín ó

A 'gur shiúl sé síos i lár a mhargaidh
'S cheannaigh sé carda ar phunt nó dhó
Bhí an tádh ina rith leis, bhain sé an "lotto"
Anois bhéidh an chuideachta againn go deo

（英语译文）
Chorus (after each verse):

My darling love, will you come back home?
My darling love, will you come with me?
My darling love, will you come back home?
My darling love

(Repeat)

He was down at the market
He drank and sang all day long
When night came and he hadn't a penny in his pocket
Oh what a shame I didn't take the missus' advice

I met him at sunrise
A charming, healthy and lively young lad
When he lifted his hat and spoke with a smile
I fell in love with him, thought it would never end

My coat had buttons of silver
And the best silk ribbons in the country
Golden chains and precious stones
I truly enticed him with my glitter and gold

No one knew from which part of the land he came
He spoke nobly and with pleasant ease
Rumor had it that there was a lord in his family
It wasn't long 'til I was engaged to him

The bond is long and difficult to untie
It's much better to be sure of it
It didn't take long 'til he broke my heart
Indeed this is not the story I'd prefer to be telling

But then he went back down to the market
And bought a ticket for a pound or two
Luck was on his side, he won the lottery
Now we'll forever be living the good life

Of This Land

How gentle was the breeze that surrounded the way
How loud the sea's roar on the four winds everyday
Sharing love, wounded gifts from ancient long ago
Together they closed in the circles we know

Will we treasure all the secrets with life's changing scenes?
Where our hearts were warm with love, so much love
Will the flowers grow again as I open out my hand?
Precious time, time for healing the beauty of this land

(Repeat)

How soulful those words that confuses the way
How wild the mountains' stare as they guard our every day
Take for granted noble hearts in the golden age that's flown
Between us, recall on a strong road we've known

Will we treasure all the secrets with life's changing scenes?
Where our hearts were warm with love, so much love
Will the flowers grow again as I open out my hand?
Precious time, time for healing the beauty of this land

Court To Love

Coming into certain lines of justice
A venue for a Venus and Eve
Take the balance of their beauty between them
A vain look can deceive

I'm only paying court to love
As deep as you can find
On the blind side of your heart
Safe inside your mind

When the length of days are dawning
It feels right in the light of understanding
There's always something bound to be a warning
When it's infinite it never meets

I'm only paying court to love
As deep as you could wish to find
On the blind side of your heart
Safe inside your mind

(Repeat)

I'm only paying court to love
As deep as you could wish to find
On the blind side of your heart
Safe inside, safe inside your mind
Court to love...

The Bridge Of Tears

The mist has cleared from Muckish Hill
Our parting coming nearer
The last embrace, the final touch
With nothing more to say
Nothing more to say

As silence fell around the bridge
Not a single word was spoken
A bitter breeze, a lonely stream
Echoed through the glen
Echoed through the glen
（盖尔语）
Droichead na ndeor
Agus droichead na gcaointe
Droichead na gcaointe
Agus droichead na ndeor
（英语译文）
The bridge of tears
And the bridge of sorrows
The bridge of sorrows
And the bridge of tears

Ochón 's ó

Memories fade with passing age
In forlorn hope we wait for
Distant hills still haunt us now
Until the end of time
Until the end of time
（盖尔语）
Droichead na ndeor
Agus droichead na gcaointe
Droichead na gcaointe
Agus droichead na ndeor
Droichead na ndeor
Agus droichead na gcaointe
Droichead na gcaointe
Agus droichead na ndeor
（英语译文）
The bridge of tears
And the bridge of sorrows
The bridge of sorrows
And the bridge of tears
The bridge of tears
And the bridge of sorrows
The bridge of sorrows
And the bridge of tears

Autumn Leaves Are Falling

Autumn leaves are falling 'round us
Time to gather all those many thoughts
Of all the things that might have been
Or gained at such a cost
For some of us there's endless hoping
For some of us a craziness, too
Holding onto better reasons
Works for me and you, you know it's true

And when the stakes are higher
Never play with fire
Leave it alone

I wandered through a country churchyard
And wondered what kind of life they led
Walked into a castle ruin
Of gentry that had fled
For some of them had endless hoping
Some of them crazy, too
Holding onto better reasons
We'll never truly know

Those trees will tumble down on a stormy day
And those leaves will fade away, fade away

The autumn leaves are falling 'round us
I'm here to gather all my many thoughts
Of all the things that might have been
As the ground has turned to frost

Leaves are falling, autumn leaves are falling...

Let Me See

Chorus:
Let me see generation times
Will we hear children singing rhymes?
Sweet memories gone by, they're gone by
Let me be wiser with my eyes
Let me see my love by my side
Let me see heaven

Lonely years of searching the wilderness
How this world can lead us all astray
Don't let me cry over colorless pictures
No more bitter winds
No more troubled seas
Just forgive me and let me see

Let me see my love, let me see
Let me see my love, let me see

(Chorus)

Crossing the room, I recognize the child in me
I'll close my eyes to release away all my fears
We silence the rose to see it blossom back again
Step by step we walk on
Word by word we talk on
Just forgive me and let me see

(Chorus)
（摘自The Clannad Newsblog网站：http://www.clannad.nl/Lmpress.html）