"Sunrise" is a song by Irish band
the Divine Comedy
The ''Divine Comedy'' ( it, Divina Commedia ) is an Italian narrative poem by Dante Alighieri, begun 1308 and completed in around 1321, shortly before the author's death. It is widely considered the pre-eminent work in Italian literature an ...
, and is the tenth and final track on their 1998 album ''
Fin de Siècle
() is a French term meaning "end of century,” a phrase which typically encompasses both the meaning of the similar English idiom "turn of the century" and also makes reference to the closing of one era and onset of another. Without context, ...
''.
Background
The song is about songwriter
Neil Hannon
Edward Neil Anthony Hannon (born 7 November 1970) is a Northern Irish singer and songwriter. He is the creator and front man of the chamber pop group The Divine Comedy, and is the band's sole constant member. Hannon wrote the theme tunes for ...
's upbringing during
the Troubles
The Troubles ( ga, Na Trioblóidí) were an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it is sometimes described as an " ...
in Northern Ireland,
and refers to
Derry and
Enniskillen
Enniskillen ( , from ga, Inis Ceithleann , ' Ceithlenn's island') is the largest town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is in the middle of the county, between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,823 a ...
(as well as Derry's official name, Londonderry, and Enniskillen's Irish name, ').
The song has been acclaimed for its poignant subject matter and is one of Hannon's most popular compositions. It has been played regularly in concerts.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sunrise (Divine Comedy Song)
Songs written by Neil Hannon
Songs about The Troubles (Northern Ireland)
The Divine Comedy (band) songs
Year of song missing