Behind the mystic music: Van the Man
A Christian interpretation of the lyrics:
“We were born before the wind” — Adam was created or “born” before the wind, which came about after his fall from grace, when the world received its curse.
“Also younger than the sun” — The sun was made on the fourth day of creation, Adam on the sixth.
“Ere the bonnie boat was one/As we sailed into the mystic” — According to one interpretation of the traditional Irish Skye Boat Song, the line “Carry the lad that is born to be king” refers to the Christ child; thus, believers were “one” with Christ as they “sailed” on the “bonnie boat” into the “mystic,” or wondrous life.
“Hark, now hear the sailors cry” — Man has fallen, everything has changed, he feels cold, all is not well. The people who are “sailing” through time “cry” out in agony.
“Smell the sea and feel the sky” — There was no rain before the fall. Streams came up from the Earth and watered the ground, but now man could feel the rain from the sky and smell the now-raging sea.
“Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic” — Fallen man is doomed to an eternal life apart from God unless God’s grace is received, letting his “soul and spirit fly” to the “mystic.”
“And when that fog horn blows, I will be coming home” — The Bible states: “The Lord himself will come down from heaven … with the trumpet call (fog horn) of God.”
“I want to hear it, I don’t have to fear it” — Welcoming the call to come home to Christ.
“I want to rock your gypsy soul/Just like way back in the days of old” — Enjoy life as intended, in the “days of old” before the “fall.”
“Then magnificently we will float, into the mystic” — “Float” those raging seas, now calmed; the perfectly wonderful life with our “bonnie boat” continues.
I thought the Skye Boat Song referred to the escape of Bonny Prince Charlie to the Scottish island of Skye in 1746 after his attempt to overthrow the king of England had failed.