Loreena McKennitt's songs draw from classic literature, like Alfred Noyes's "The Highwayman" and Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott," and traditional folk stories such as the Northumbrian ballad "The Twa Sisters" (inspiring "The Bonny Swans").

Her lyrics are also influenced by mystical and spiritual texts like St. John of the Cross's "Dark Night of the Soul" and the works of poets like William Butler Yeats and William Shakespeare, particularly his play The Tempest.

Examples of Specific Inspirations:

"The Highwayman": by Alfred Noyes

"The Lady of Shalott": by Lord Tennyson

"The Bonny Swans": inspired by "The Twa Sisters," a Northumbrian murder ballad

"The Stolen Child": and "The Two Trees" by William Butler Yeats

"Prospero's Speech": from Shakespeare's The Tempest

"Dark Night of the Soul": by St. John of the Cross

"Snow": by Archibald Lampman

Broader Influences:

Celtic and Irish History: Her work is deeply rooted in European and Celtic musical traditions and history, exploring themes of myth, longing, and discovery.

Travel and Global Cultures: McKennitt incorporates her personal travels and encounters with various cultures into her lyrics and compositions, which feature multilingual elements.

Romantic Narrative Tradition: She often adapts classic narrative poems, drawing from stories that explore mysteries of nature, love, and human suffering.