The Voice was the Irish entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 in Oslo performed by Eimear Quinn.
The song advanced from the audio-only qualifying round in 2nd place behind Sweden. In the final, it was performed 17th following Belgium and preceding Finland. At the close of voting, it was declared the winner with 162 points, giving Ireland its 7th victory. It also made Brendan Graham the fifth member of the elite group to have composed two Eurovision winners (he had also written Rock 'n' Roll Kids which won two years prior).
Many fans were disappointed by such an "old-fashioned" song being picked by the juries as the winner; when it looked like the song was about to win, a number of fans allegedly left the arena. This led to televoting being trialed in 1997, which turned out to be a success.
Lyrics[]
I hear your voice on the wind
And I hear you call out my name
"Listen my child," you say to me
"I am the voice of your history"
"Be not afraid, come follow me"
"Answer my call and I'll set you free"
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice, I will remain
I am the voice in the fields when the summer's gone
The dance of the leaves when the autumn winds blow
Ne'er do I sleep throughout all the cold winter long
I am the force that in springtime will grow
I am the voice of the past that will always be
Filled with my sorrows and blood in my fields
I am the voice of the future
Bring me your peace
Bring me your peace and my wounds, they will heal
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice
I am the voice of the past that will always be
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice of the future
I am the voice
I am the voice
I am the voice
I am the voice