Orinoco Flow

The Annotated Orinoco Flow

Let me sail, let me sail, let the Orinoco flow,
Let me reach, let me beach on the shores of Tripoli.
Let me sail, let me sail, let me crash upon your shore,
Let me reach, let me beach far beyond the Yellow Sea.

Sail away, sail away, sail away. (3 times)
Orinoco Flow is named after two, somewhat related, places; Orinoco Studios in London where the song was recorded and the Orinoco River in Venezuela. The Orinoco River, some 1700 miles in length, is an arc shaped river which originates in Cerro Delgado-Chalbaud near the Venezuelan-Brazilian border and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The Orinoco River was discovered by Columbus during his third voyage in 1498.

Tripoli is the capitol of Libya. It was founded in the 7th century BCE by the Phoenicians. The city is located on the North shores of Africa and the Southern Mediterranean Sea.

The Yellow Sea is located between mainland China on the East and North, the Korean peninsula to the West and the East China Sea to the South. The Yellow Sea takes it's name from the Yellow River in China whose yellow sand gives both bodies their names.

From Bissau to Palau - in the shade of Avalon,
From Fiji to Tiree and the Isles of Ebony,
From Peru to Cebu hear the power of Babylon,
From Bali to Cali - far beneath the Coral Sea.

Turning up, turning up, turning up, up I do. Ohh. (3 times)

Sail away, sail away, sail away. (3 times)
Bissau is the capitol of Guinea-Bissau. Guinea-Bissau is located on the West coast of Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the North, Guinea to the South and East, and the Atlantic Ocean to the West. Guinea-Bissau was once known as the Kingdom of Gabu.

Pulau is a small island in the Pacific Ocean some 500 miles East of the Philippines.

Avalon is a legendary island in he British Isles. It is said that King Arthur is buried in Avalon. Avalon is the setting for a series of fantasy novels. The most popular being The Mists of Avalon. Avalon, supposedly famous for its apples, is from the Celtic word abal meaning apple. "In the shade of Avalon" may refer to the general location of the British Isles or literally in the shade of an apple tree.

Fiji is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of several hundred islands. It is located West of Australia and North of New Zealand.

Tiree, sometimes spelled Tyree, is an island West of Scotland. It's name derives from the Celtic word Tireth, which means "land of the corn." The island is inhabited by 800 people. It is part of the Hebrides, a group of more than fifty islands.

The Isles of Ebony is now a small village (population 400) in Southern Kent, England. Today it is simply called Ebony. Until 1650 the Isles of Ebony was surrounded by water. Principally the Rother River. At that time, the landowners cut a channel to divert the Rother River, thus creating land access to the city.

Peru is located on the West coast of South America. It once held the vast Inca Empire.

Cebu is an island in the Philippines.

Babylon was a city in Mesopotamia established some 26 centuries ago. It was built along the banks of the Euphrates in what is now Iraq some 50 miles South of present day Baghdad. The long history of Babylon is filled with many great wars and rulers such as Nebuchadnezzar and Alexander the Great. Babylon was also the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Bali is an island in the Indonesian archipelago.

Cali, or Santiago de Cali, is located in the Southern region of Columbia, South America. Its current population exceeds two million. Contrast this with its population some one hundred years ago of just 25,000.

The Coral Sea lies off the NorthEast of coast of Australia. It contains the Great Barrier Reef which is the largest coral reef in the world. The Coral Sea's namesake is the Coral Sea Islands, a group of small islands.

From the North to the South, Ebudae into Khartoum,
From the deep sea of clouds to the island of the moon,
Carry me on the waves to the land I've never been,
Carry me on the waves to the lands I've never seen.

We can sail, we can sail... with the Orinoco flow
We can sail, we can sail...
Sail away, sail away, sail away.

Ebudae is the classical name given to the Inner Hebrides, an archipelago located off the West coast of Scotland. The Inner and Outer Hebrides, collectively known as The Hebrides, is a group of more than fifty islands. Tiree (noted above) is part of the Inner Hebrides.

Khartoum is the capital of Sudan. It is located where the White Nile and the Blue Nile converge. Despite having been founded in 1821, the city has a population of more than one million. In a totally unrelated bit of trivia, Sherlock Holmes in The Adventure of the Empty House, recounts his three year hiatus to Watson and mentions that he "paid a short but interesting visit to the Khalifa at Khartoum."

It is unclear what the "deep sea of clouds" refers to. It may refer to Mare Nubium located in the Nubium basin on the Moon. Mare Nubium translates as "sea of clouds". However, the complete line "From the deep sea of clouds to the island of the moon" would make little sense if the points of travel are from the moon to the moon. A more likely candidate for "deep sea of clouds" is Mount Huangshan in China. Mount Huangshan is probably the most famous mountain in China. Located in Eastern China, the Huang Shan mountain range extends for more than 150 miles and has some 77 peaks above 3000 feet. The highest peak, Lian Hua Feng, is more than 6000 feet in height. The mountains are very steep and offer spectacular views. On more than 200 days each year, the mountains are misty and cloudy forming a "deep sea of clouds." The view is of course more spectacular when seen from above the clouds. Mount Huangshan was originally known as Mount Yishan. It was renamed in 747 AD in honor of Huang Di who was said to make magical immortality pills from there. One ingredient in his magical immortality pills may have been from the pine trees that grow in the rock crevices. Some are more than 1500 years old.

We can steer, we can near with Rob Dickins at the wheel,
We can sigh, say goodbye Ross and his Dependencies
We can sail, we can sail
Sail away , sail away, sail away

We can reach, we can beach on the shores of Tripoli.
We can sail, we can sail
Sail away , sail away, sail away

From Bali to Cali - far beneath the Coral Sea.
We can sail, we can sail
Sail away , sail away, sail away

From Bissau to Palau - in the shade of Avalon,
We can sail, we can sail
Sail away , sail away, sail away

We can reach, we can beach far beyond the Yellow Sea.
We can sail, we can sail
Sail away , sail away, sail away

From Peru to Cebu hear the power of Babylon,
We can sail, we can sail
Sail away , sail away, sail away

We can sail, we can sail
Sail away, sail away, sail away (5 times)

Ahhah, aahha, ah.
According to the alt.music.enya FAQ, Rob Dickins was the head of WEA Music UK and gave Enya her first big break.He was also the executive producer of the album Watermark where Orinoco Flow is recorded.

Again, the alt.music.enya FAQ provides two possible answers to who are "Ross and his Dependencies."

Ross Cullum was listed as the album's engineer, and also its co-producer with Nicky Ryan and Enya. (A reader has noted that Mr. Cullum was actually out sick the day of the recording.)

"The Ross Dependencies" is a geographic reference, only one of many in the song. It seems likely that Roma simply couldn't resist making a little joke based on Ross's name.

As the song is very much about geographical locations, it's fair to assume that the latter explanation is correct. The Ross Dependency is located in the Antarctica and is defined as a sector originating at the South Pole, passing along longitudes 160 East and 150 degrees West, and terminating at latitude 60 South. It derives its name from Sir James Clark Ross, who discovered the Ross Sea.

Let me sail, let me sail, let the Orinoco flow, Let me reach, let me beach on the shores of Tripoli. Let me sail, let me sail, let me crash upon your shore, Let me reach, let me beach far beyond the Yellow Sea. Sail away, sail away, sail away. (3 times)	Orinoco Flow is named after two, somewhat related, places; Orinoco Studios in London where the song was recorded and the Orinoco River in Venezuela. The Orinoco River, some 1700 miles in length, is an arc shaped river which originates in Cerro Delgado-Chalbaud near the Venezuelan-Brazilian border and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The Orinoco River was discovered by Columbus during his third voyage in 1498. Tripoli is the capitol of Libya. It was founded in the 7th century BCE by the Phoenicians. The city is located on the North shores of Africa and the Southern Mediterranean Sea. The Yellow Sea is located between mainland China on the East and North, the Korean peninsula to the West and the East China Sea to the South. The Yellow Sea takes it's name from the Yellow River in China whose yellow sand gives both bodies their names.
From Bissau to Palau - in the shade of Avalon, From Fiji to Tiree and the Isles of Ebony, From Peru to Cebu hear the power of Babylon, From Bali to Cali - far beneath the Coral Sea. Turning up, turning up, turning up, up I do. Ohh. (3 times) Sail away, sail away, sail away. (3 times)	Bissau is the capitol of Guinea-Bissau. Guinea-Bissau is located on the West coast of Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the North, Guinea to the South and East, and the Atlantic Ocean to the West. Guinea-Bissau was once known as the Kingdom of Gabu. Pulau is a small island in the Pacific Ocean some 500 miles East of the Philippines. Avalon is a legendary island in he British Isles. It is said that King Arthur is buried in Avalon. Avalon is the setting for a series of fantasy novels. The most popular being The Mists of Avalon. Avalon, supposedly famous for its apples, is from the Celtic word abal meaning apple. "In the shade of Avalon" may refer to the general location of the British Isles or literally in the shade of an apple tree. Fiji is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of several hundred islands. It is located West of Australia and North of New Zealand. Tiree, sometimes spelled Tyree, is an island West of Scotland. It's name derives from the Celtic word Tireth, which means "land of the corn." The island is inhabited by 800 people. It is part of the Hebrides, a group of more than fifty islands. The Isles of Ebony is now a small village (population 400) in Southern Kent, England. Today it is simply called Ebony. Until 1650 the Isles of Ebony was surrounded by water. Principally the Rother River. At that time, the landowners cut a channel to divert the Rother River, thus creating land access to the city. Peru is located on the West coast of South America. It once held the vast Inca Empire. Cebu is an island in the Philippines. Babylon was a city in Mesopotamia established some 26 centuries ago. It was built along the banks of the Euphrates in what is now Iraq some 50 miles South of present day Baghdad. The long history of Babylon is filled with many great wars and rulers such as Nebuchadnezzar and Alexander the Great. Babylon was also the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Bali is an island in the Indonesian archipelago. Cali, or Santiago de Cali, is located in the Southern region of Columbia, South America. Its current population exceeds two million. Contrast this with its population some one hundred years ago of just 25,000. The Coral Sea lies off the NorthEast of coast of Australia. It contains the Great Barrier Reef which is the largest coral reef in the world. The Coral Sea's namesake is the Coral Sea Islands, a group of small islands.
From the North to the South, Ebudae into Khartoum, From the deep sea of clouds to the island of the moon, Carry me on the waves to the land I've never been, Carry me on the waves to the lands I've never seen. We can sail, we can sail... with the Orinoco flow We can sail, we can sail... Sail away, sail away, sail away.	Ebudae is the classical name given to the Inner Hebrides, an archipelago located off the West coast of Scotland. The Inner and Outer Hebrides, collectively known as The Hebrides, is a group of more than fifty islands. Tiree (noted above) is part of the Inner Hebrides. Khartoum is the capital of Sudan. It is located where the White Nile and the Blue Nile converge. Despite having been founded in 1821, the city has a population of more than one million. In a totally unrelated bit of trivia, Sherlock Holmes in The Adventure of the Empty House, recounts his three year hiatus to Watson and mentions that he "paid a short but interesting visit to the Khalifa at Khartoum." It is unclear what the "deep sea of clouds" refers to. It may refer to Mare Nubium located in the Nubium basin on the Moon. Mare Nubium translates as "sea of clouds". However, the complete line "From the deep sea of clouds to the island of the moon" would make little sense if the points of travel are from the moon to the moon. A more likely candidate for "deep sea of clouds" is Mount Huangshan in China. Mount Huangshan is probably the most famous mountain in China. Located in Eastern China, the Huang Shan mountain range extends for more than 150 miles and has some 77 peaks above 3000 feet. The highest peak, Lian Hua Feng, is more than 6000 feet in height. The mountains are very steep and offer spectacular views. On more than 200 days each year, the mountains are misty and cloudy forming a "deep sea of clouds." The view is of course more spectacular when seen from above the clouds. Mount Huangshan was originally known as Mount Yishan. It was renamed in 747 AD in honor of Huang Di who was said to make magical immortality pills from there. One ingredient in his magical immortality pills may have been from the pine trees that grow in the rock crevices. Some are more than 1500 years old.
We can steer, we can near with Rob Dickins at the wheel, We can sigh, say goodbye Ross and his Dependencies We can sail, we can sail Sail away , sail away, sail away We can reach, we can beach on the shores of Tripoli. We can sail, we can sail Sail away , sail away, sail away From Bali to Cali - far beneath the Coral Sea. We can sail, we can sail Sail away , sail away, sail away From Bissau to Palau - in the shade of Avalon, We can sail, we can sail Sail away , sail away, sail away We can reach, we can beach far beyond the Yellow Sea. We can sail, we can sail Sail away , sail away, sail away From Peru to Cebu hear the power of Babylon, We can sail, we can sail Sail away , sail away, sail away We can sail, we can sail Sail away, sail away, sail away (5 times) Ahhah, aahha, ah.	According to the alt.music.enya FAQ, Rob Dickins was the head of WEA Music UK and gave Enya her first big break.He was also the executive producer of the album Watermark where Orinoco Flow is recorded. Again, the alt.music.enya FAQ provides two possible answers to who are "Ross and his Dependencies." Ross Cullum was listed as the album's engineer, and also its co-producer with Nicky Ryan and Enya. (A reader has noted that Mr. Cullum was actually out sick the day of the recording.) "The Ross Dependencies" is a geographic reference, only one of many in the song. It seems likely that Roma simply couldn't resist making a little joke based on Ross's name. As the song is very much about geographical locations, it's fair to assume that the latter explanation is correct. The Ross Dependency is located in the Antarctica and is defined as a sector originating at the South Pole, passing along longitudes 160 East and 150 degrees West, and terminating at latitude 60 South. It derives its name from Sir James Clark Ross, who discovered the Ross Sea.