Eighties Archive Song Number
Highest Chart Position
Date Released
Date Of UK Top 40 Entry
Genre
Label
Catalogue Number
Story Behind The Song
Few songs created such an immediate sense of escape as Enya’s “Orinoco Flow”. Released in 1988, the song introduced a distinctive blend of layered vocals, synthesizers and atmospheric textures that would become central to Enya’s sound. Written by Enya and Roma Ryan, and produced by Enya and Nicky Ryan, it appeared on the album Watermark.
The song was inspired partly by the world of travel and recording. The title refers to the Orinoco River in South America, while the lyrics move through a series of geographical references, names and images, creating the impression of an endless voyage across oceans and continents. Rather than telling a conventional story, the words work almost like a collection of dreamlike postcards, encouraging the listener to imagine distant places and open seas.
Musically, “Orinoco Flow” is built around layers of Enya’s voice, which were recorded and combined to create the impression of a choir performed by a single singer. Synthesizers provide the rhythmic and harmonic foundation, while the production remains remarkably spacious and uncluttered.
The repeated “sail away” refrain gives the song its emotional centre, turning the idea of travel into something more universal — a desire to leave everyday life behind and discover somewhere new.
With its hypnotic rhythm, ethereal vocals and richly imagined sense of place, “Orinoco Flow” remains one of Enya’s defining recordings and a beautifully crafted example of atmospheric pop at its most distinctive.
The song peaked at No. 01 in the UK singles chart on 29th October 1988.
UK 7'' SLEEVE COVERS
Shown below are the picture sleeve covers (front and back) for the UK release of this single. If no cover sleeve was issued in the UK, we will display another country’s picture sleeve.
UK 7'' TRACK LISTING
| A-Side | Orinoco Flow (3:45) (Enya, Ryan) Produced By Enya, Ryan |
| B-Side | Out Of The Blue (3:54) (Enya, Ryan) Produced By Enya, Ryan |
CHART PERFORMANCE
| UK Top 40 Chart Run [8 Weeks] – 15th October 1988 – 3rd December 1988 |
OFFICIALLY RELEASED VERSIONS
All officially released versions that appeared in the 80s:-
- Orinoco Flow (Single Version) (3:45)
- Orinoco Flow (Album Version) (4:26)
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OFFICIAL VIDEO
SONG LYRICS
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
De-da, de-da, de
De-da, de-da, de
De-da, de-da, de
De-da, de-da, de
De-da, de-da, de
(Ah)
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
From Bissau to Palau
In the shade of Avalon
From Fiji to Tiree
And the Isles of Ebony
From Peru to Cebu
Feel the power of Babylon
From Bali to Cali
Far beneath the Coral Sea
De-da, de-da, de
De-da, de-da, de
De-da, de-da, de
De-da, de-da, de
De-da, de-da, de
Turn it up, turn it up (Ooh)
Turn it up, up
Adieu
(Ooh)
Turn it up, turn it up (Ooh)
Turn it up, up
Adieu
(Ooh)
Turn it up, turn it up (Ooh)
Turn it up, up
Adieu
(Ahh)
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
From the North to the South
Ebudæ unto Khartoum
From the deep Sea of Clouds
To the Island of the Moon
Carry me on the waves
To the lands 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
We can steer, we can near
With Rob Dickins at the wheel
We can sigh, say goodbye
Ross and his dependency
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
Feel 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
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Sail away, sail away, sail away
Ah, ah-ah
Ah, ah-ah
Ah
Written By Enya, Roma Ryan
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