The Fields Of Athenry (Irish Folk Ballad)

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#TheFieldsOfAthenry #TheDubliners #IrishMusic #Irish #Trad #Folk #Celtic

[ColmRMcGuinness]

What Irish songs should I Cover in the New Year??? GO GO GO!

[spmoran]

This song is sung all over Ireland . It tells a sad story of a man being transported to Australia, for stealing vegetable from a English invaders stolen land . Ironic the man was found guilty of stealing . But, it was to feed his family . Erin go braugh!

[grahamthomas]

By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young girl calling
"Michael, they have taken you away
For you stole Trevelyan's corn
So the young might see the morn
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay"
Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry
By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young man calling
"Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free
Against the famine and the crown
I rebelled, they cut me down
Now you must raise our child with dignity"
Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry
By a lonely harbour wall
She watched the last star falling
As that prison ship sailed out against the sky
For she lived in hope and pray
For her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry
Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry

[williamoreilly]

I lost my baby boy, Jared, 10 days ago. In the early hours of Thursday 4th Jan 2024. He was a day shy of 18 weeks.

Whilst my wife was delivering his body and placenta, the chorus of this version of the song was stuck on repeat in my head. It was a distraction from the horrific experience we were going through; we'll be having it played at his funeral.

No other version will ever come close to the raw passion displayed in Colm's voice.

[VRALGHST]

I'm a grown man at 34 and this song made me simultaneously swell with pride and cry at the beauty of this ballad being sung with such power and love for Éire. Feckin hell. Good on ye boyo

[snookums]

A very haunting and emotional version, the best I've heard. On my fathers side of the family, I am a descendant of convicts sent from the UK to Australia, this song is very much part of my history. My however number of greats grandfather went down for stealing and my equally number of greats grandmother was transported for stealing while in service. While some were sent here for life, even a "short" sentence of 7 years was a life sentence because, once free, there was very little chance of ever returning home. The unspoken truth in this song is that Michael might never have returned home to Athenry but instead started a new life and family in Australia.

[p.f]

That Rock voice at "Low lie" in the chorus tingles just right in the ears. What an incredible interpretation of this song.

[ATT]

I love the anger and anguish you put into this song, because those people where not to blame for the famine, not to blame for their pain, they where victims of the Lords greed and tyranny. Thank you Colm for bringing your voice to our ears ❤

[NormusDiabolus]

I still remember the first time hearing this song, when the Irish friends sang it in the match against spain in 2012. Our german tv commenter just stopped talking so we could hear the fans sing for whole five minutes. We were at home watching it with friends... no one talked, just listening to the fans singing. 2019 I finally managed to take my motorcycle to irland and travel the country for two weeks.

And while you are a close second the 2012 stadion version of this song from the irish fans is still my favorite ;)

[Entrak]

There's the Dubliners. And then, there's Colm McGuinness.

Both making you love Irish music.

[snipers_nightmare]

LYRICS:

By a lonely prison wall,
I heard a young girl calling
Michael, they have taken you away,
For you stole Trevelyan's corn,
So the young might see the morn.
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay.

Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing, we had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry.

By a lonely prison wall,
I heard a young man calling
Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free
Against the famine and the Crown,
I rebelled, they cut me down.
Now you must raise our child with dignity.

Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing, we had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry.

By a lonely harbor wall,
She watched the last star falling
As that prison ship sailed out against the sky
Sure she lived in hope and pray'r,
for her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry.

It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry.

Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing, we had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry.

[alexisharper]

Athenry is a punch to the gut, and your rendition of it is moving; kudos to you as always for yet another gorgeous cover.

[khyron]

American with Irish ancestry, we never get to hear these songs. We have visited Ireland several times now and these songs live in the hearts and pubs of the Irish. You sir have opened this part of my history. As your passionate singing lures me into learning my history and that of Ireland. Australia and America are so similar in many ways.

[raptormann]

You give this song the kind of mournful intensity that I feel a lot of covers miss. This is now among my favorite versions of this classic song.

[samhampton]

This is pretty well the story of my family 7 generations ago. Gods bless you from Australia. Freedom for Ireland and the colonies.

[mycenaeangal]

This song is hitting hard rn. A weird sort of mixed uppedness as it applies to my life but all the pieces are still there. Imigrating to australia, worried about governments denying me a life with my love, Tyranny worsening at home. The last piece that's missing is the atmosphere of death and desperation but I can see that around the corner. I wish I could sing. I wish could give voice to all of the grief I'm feeling...

[johnnavarre]

I have heard so many covers of this song and I love this song to death. So many artists sing it as a somber ballad. You brought a different energy to it that I didn't know this song needed, but now sounds weird without it. That energy you brought to the chorus felt like anguish projecting through the lyrics and it sounds truly amazing. I can't stop listening to this

[stevehall]

Love this song, and I'm an Englishman - never better than sung by an Irish international rugby crowd.

[RealBelisariusCawl]

Pouring one out for the blood that was spilled to give us this music.

I don’t know your name, nor your face, nor when you lived exactly, but whomever you were, this one is for you. May you rest peacefully in the arms of the Lord. 🥃

[Athene.]

I will never stop spreading your music and praising you to every person on the planet that will listen. Your vocal range and music styles always both me away!