They played U.S. clubs and pubs where people expected to hear something off the cuff. This early pilgrimages convinced Frankie and Mairead that no-compromise, traditional music, if played with passionate vigor, would win over audiences in any sector. They could have changed what they did by going to another territory. But they decided to stick with their guns and follow the straight line. Altan's stickler approach ensured that every audience would learn a smattering of Gaelic before the performance came to an end.
Gaelic songs are usually about unrequited love and someone being brokenhearted.
They can be seen more as an impressionistic painting. They never lived happily ever after. You don't know what happens. It throws something out there along with an image of different colors. It's more of a suggestion.