This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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
By a lonely harbor wall, she watched the last star fall
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
For she lived to hope and pray for her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry
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
By a lonely harbor wall, she watched the last star fall
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
For she lived to hope and pray for her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry
Lyrics submitted by AirCav1stOfThe9th, edited by AlecSchon
Fields Of Athenry [Previously Unreleased Track] Lyrics as written by Kenneth William Casey Alexander Martin Barr
Lyrics © MEMORY LANE MUSIC GROUP
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great song about a tragic historical event. I have Irish blood on both sides of my family. Although there's a couple of points that need correction in whats been said. The IRA that fought for freedom in the 1920s isn't the same as the IRA that exists today. The IRA that exists today is actually called the Provisional IRA, and is a sectarian terrorist organisation, , who continue to participate in activities such as "punishment beatings", kneecappings and executions on the basis of religion or political viewpoint, and who also have a history of bombing civilian targets and killing both catholics and protests, irish and english. There are similar groups that carry out similar activities that are protestant, however they want Northern Ireland to remain a part of Great Britain. The famine was a great tragedy, as was most of Ireland's experience at the hands of England, but although the fight today has its roots in that fight, it lacks moral justification and has resorted to an "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" game of revenges.
@Indiemonkey <br /> <br /> Very insightful, I think people need to know that indiemonkey.
From Chivalry.com:
The song tells the story of Lord Trevelyan who brought a supply of corn back from America in a bid to battle starvation during the potato famine in the mid-nineteenth century. Unfortunately it was Indian corn too hard to be milled, so useless. However, local people thought it would save them and so broke into the stores, were arrested, and subsequently deported to Australia.
Just thought Id clear it up. makes kinda more sense now, huh?
The song was written in 1979 and recorded by Paddy Reilly. Over the past 17 years more than 400 cover versions have been made .
Just a couple of facts you may care about.
Shut the fuck up, please. Thank you.
Maybe Irish-American punks aren't the best qualified to give their opinions on the irish situation? To compare the IRA's campaign to the 9/11 attacks is so ignorant as to be offensive. To say that they have put the peace process back years is unionist propaganda. Let us remember that the only reason there is a peace process to begin with is because of the war. The Brits were not listening to democratic means (and they were famously gunning down peaceful protests). Without the armed struggle, many catholics, myself included, would still be second class citizens in Belfast with shit jobs and no prospects.
GLASGOW CELTIC FTW
i feel like this is the best song off the new album, and the best version of this song i have ever heard.
Umm. I didnt get my ass handed to me. I got bad information from a reputable source.
And horray for you, your what...seven generations off from your ancestor? That doesnt mean you should know, its not like knowledge is passed to you when youre born.
wow, that must of really of gotten to you. where did you get your "bad info" from? the same brits who with held that corn? and no, i wasn't born with that info, theirs something called a family tree and researching your family roots. Pog me hone!
lol<br /> <br /> Lemme guess.<br /> <br /> You're either American or Canadian, but you have Irish blood, that left Ireland 7 generations ago.<br /> <br /> You know nothing. I'm willing to bet that you consider yourself a supporter of the IRA as well, without knowing a thing about them.
Well I got my info from Chivalry.com, a good site, but it was most likely a British/English site with more than a little slant. And yes, the obligatory "Kiss my ass" in Gaelic. I have went to take more pride in my Irish heritage since oh, about this time roughly last year, so yeah, my info was bad as my research proved. Ive even went to re-register here as Cumhal Macart. So...yeah sorry if I kinda had an edge. Its fine...but still, heritage doesnt equal knowledge, just influence.