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The way I hear the lyrics to one line of "The Voice" is

"Bring me your peace and my wounds, they will heal". 

And this is what the entry from the Wikipedia site for Brendan Graham who wrote the song indicates.

This, I believe, is a reference to Scripture that says "by his wounds we are healed" which is a reference to Christ.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article on the song The Voice:

Lyrically, it is a very Celtic-inspired song, with the singer portraying herself as "the voice" which watches over the world, describing "her" effects on the natural world, such as the wind, the seasons, in a similar way to Mother Nature.

Mother Nature is telling mankind that the world's injuries will heal if man finds peace.

After reading my post, I see where it might be misunderstood.  What I meant was the wikipedia site showed the lyrics as being "...my wounds, they will heal". 

The last statement is my personal feeling about the song and what it says to me is a reminder of Christ's wounds that heal us.

Gotcha.  So we agree on everything.  ;)

I think it has two views:  mother nature and God.  The first time I heard it I thought it had to do with mother nature, I wasn't wrong but there are other perspectives.  Like Hayley's "Let Me Lie" is about mother nature too. ;)

The song seems more like Nature than God to me, except that a particular part of the opening verses, "Answer my call and I'll set you free," seems like it's directly from the Bible.

By the way, a question that has been bugging me as of late: when Lisa sings the part that is supposedly "I am the force that in spring time will grow," does she say "force" or "voice?" :D

It's "the force" I looked it up in the little booklet from the A New Journey album. :)

Yes, I know the lyrics say "force" but when I hear Lisa singing it, I can't tell if it's "force" or "voice!"  They do sound much alike, you know :D

Don't go by the booklet. If you check the lyrics for The Prayer it says "I pray we'll find your light and hold it in our hearts. When stars go out each night behind us where you are." Chloe clearly sings "Remind us where you are." :)

The Voice
Music and lyrics by Brendan Graham

I hear your voice on the wind
And I hear you call out my name
 
"Listen my child," you say to me
"I am the voice of your history"
"Be not afraid, come follow me"
"Answer my call and I'll set you free"
 
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice, I will remain
 
I am the voice in the fields when the summer's gone
The dance of the leaves when the autumn winds blow
Ne'er do I sleep throughout all the cold winter long
I am the force that in springtime will grow
 
I am the voice of the past that will always be
Filled with my sorrows and blood in my fields
I am the voice of the future
Bring me your peace
Bring me your peace and my wounds, they will heal
 
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice
 
I am the voice of the past that will always be
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice of the future
I am the voice
I am the voice
I am the voice
I am the voice

I noticed that too! And I think there's also a typo in the lyrics to The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun although I'm not sure. The booklet says the words in Orlagh's part are "I will the earth delight" but it sounds more like "I will the earth to light" to me ???

As someone who's designed lyric sheets for CDs before, I assure you that - even though we try our best - they aren't perfect sources for information. I've actually had some uncomfortable discussions with the artist about what was written and what they actually sing. Sometimes on a cover song they misunderstand the original words and sing them wrong for years!

"No, really, dude. It's not 'Hold me closer, Tony Danza.' Elton John might be thinking that but he's saying 'Tiny Dancer'."

Wow, that is really funny!  ;D
Kelsey

in "Caledonia" Lisa sings "But if I should become a stranger" but the lyrics say "shall"

I noticed those things too but I made myself believe "no I'm just hearing it wrong" :D  I thougt I was the only one :D  Then "The Voice" lyrics and "The Prayer" are a little "altered" then :)

Actually, "should" is correct. It's the same tense as the rest of the line: "...know that it would make me more than sad."

As I said, the lyric sheet isn't always right.

Yeah, I know that when the choir at my church sing some songs, they'll change the words a little so that it will sound better.  Like when they sing the word "Lord" they don't pronounce the "L"

My interpretation of "The Voice" from the first time I heard it, is this is the voice of Ireland singing to her children. I think that is what Brendan Graham (from Tipperary) intended, as many of his songs and books have an Irish History theme.

If you know Irish History it becomes obvious.

It mentions all the pain and hardships the Irish people have endured....
the Famine "your hunger and pain"
the bloodshed in the long struggle for independence "Filled with my sorrows and blood in my fields"
The message of the song is:
Learn about your history, learn from what Ireland has been through =
"I am the voice of your history, be not afraid, come follow me"

Never forget the past = "I am the voice of the past that will always be"

But strive for a peaceful solution so the wounds of the past can heal = "Give me your peace and my wounds they will heal"

Now we can go on to more prosperous times = "I am the voice of the future"

The reference to the seasons is symbolic of the long dark times of the past and the promise of the future = "I am the force that in Springtime will grow".

The force definitely did grow in the light of the Peace Accord, and the Irish Economy is now one of the best in Europe.
But we still have a way to go........

Although "I am the Voice" might refer to Ireland and history, there is always a hint of spirituality in most Irish songs.
Even the Preamble to the Irish Constitution refers to God and History in the same breath.
Here is the Preamble:

In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, from Whom is all authority and to Whom, as our final end, all actions both of men and States must be referred,

We, the people of Éire,

Humbly acknowledging all our obligations to our Divine Lord, Jesus Christ, Who sustained our fathers through centuries of trial,

Gratefully remembering their heroic and unremitting struggle to regain the rightful independence of our Nation,

And seeking to promote the common good, with due observance of Prudence, Justice and Charity, so that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured, true social order attained, the unity of our country restored, and concord established with other nations,

Do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Voice_%28song%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Voice_%28song%29)

Here's a video of the original singer, Eimear Quinn, performing "The Voice" in the Eurovision Song contest (which it won) in 1996. Sadly, the sound isn't great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPSZxPGv7dI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPSZxPGv7dI)

umm..very interesting. 

Maggie, I was just about to post my interpretation of what the voice represents, and then I decicded to read all the thread first and yours is the same as mine.  I thought of it as being Ireland itself, talking to her children. *S*

Ireland talking to her children....wow that's a nice interpretation I never thought of that ;)