Cymbeline

Loreena McKennitt's rendition of 'Cymbeline' is a hauntingly beautiful meditation on the inevitability of death and the transient nature of life. The lyrics, originally from William Shakespeare's play 'Cymbeline,' are a funeral song that speaks to the universal human experience of mortality. McKennitt's ethereal voice and the song's somber melody amplify the poignant message that no matter one's status, achievements, or loves, all must eventually 'come to dust.' This phrase, repeated throughout the song, serves as a stark reminder of our shared fate.

The song opens with a call to 'fear no more the heat o' the sun nor the furious winters' rages,' suggesting that the trials and tribulations of life are over for the deceased. The imagery of 'golden lads and girls' turning to dust alongside 'chimney-sweepers' underscores the theme of equality in death. Regardless of one's social standing or accomplishments, everyone is subject to the same end. This egalitarian view is further emphasized with references to 'the sceptre, learning, physic,' all of which 'must follow this and come to dust.'

As the song progresses, it continues to strip away the fears and concerns of the living. The deceased no longer need to worry about the 'frown o' th' great' or the 'tyrant's stroke.' The line 'to thee the reed is as the oak' poetically conveys that in death, the distinctions between the weak and the strong, the insignificant and the mighty, are erased. The song concludes with a powerful message: 'Fear no more the lightning flash, nor th' all-dreaded thunder-stone; fear not slander, censure rash; thou hast finished joy and moan.' In this final stanza, McKennitt encapsulates the release from all earthly joys and sorrows, leaving behind a sense of peace and acceptance.