Cáer Asleep is inspired by the Celtic tale of Angus Óg and Cáer the Swan Maiden. Angus fell in love with Cáer, the girl of his dreams, after seeing her in a vision. His mother, alarmed by the extent of his lovesick suffering, enlisted the help of both fairies and gods to search for this woman. Several years passed before Angus was directed to a lake, where he found a huge flock of swans on the water. He saw that each wore a silver torc, or band, around its neck – all except for one, who wore a band of gold. That bird was Cáer, who swam to him when she heard him call her name. They fell deeply in love, and Angus transformed himself into a swan so that they could be together forever.