Meaning of "On Your Shore" by Enya

The lyrics of "On Your Shore" delve into themes of longing, nostalgia, and the transient nature of time. The opening lines express the strangeness the narrator feels upon finding themselves near the person they love, emphasizing the intensity of their emotions. They reminisce about a loss of comfort that they experienced in the past, implying that being near this person reignites those feelings.

The lines "Cool waves wash over, And drift away with dreams of youth" conjure images of nostalgia and the passage of time. The waves symbolize the passing of memories and dreams, signifying that as time goes on, the intensity and impact of those dreams lessen. The narrator's yearning is amplified by the statement "So time is stolen, I cannot hold you long enough," encapsulating the desire for more time with the loved one.

The lyrics also suggest that the narrator feels they are in the wrong place, constantly aware of the days and nights slipping away. They have a sense of a dream that they should be holding onto, but it remains elusive. The soft blue horizons mentioned serve as a metaphor for early childhood memories, suggesting that the presence of the loved one triggers a rediscovery of forgotten aspects of the narrator's own identity.

The line "Strange how I falter, To find I'm standing in deep water" can be interpreted as the feeling of being out of one's depth, emotionally vulnerable in the presence of the loved one. The concluding lines, "Strange how my heart beats, To find I'm standing on your shore," again emphasizes the paradox of being both overwhelmed and comforted by the proximity of this person.

Overall, the lyrics of "On Your Shore" convey a complex emotional landscape where the intensity of love, longing, and nostalgia collide. The song portrays the bittersweet realization of the fleeting nature of time and the deep yearning for more moments with the loved one. It captures the simultaneous feelings of vulnerability and comfort that come with being in their presence.